An ultrastructural study of acid phosphatase activity in normal, adenomatous and hyperplastic (chief cell type) human parathyroid glands.

Acid-phosphatase-rich granules, separate from the parathyroid-hormone-containing secretory granules, have been demonstrated in the normal, adenomatous and primary hyperplastic human parathyroid glands. These granules are thought to represent lysosomes which are derived from the Golgi region. In the normal glands these granules are postulated to be associated with involution of the cell organelles during the normal secretory cycle. In the adenomatous and hyperplastic glands evidence is presented that these lysosomes are associated with the destruction of secretary granules and parthyroid hormone.