Thyroparathyroidectomy exaggerates calciuric action of ammonium chloride in rats.

The effects of chronic ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) administration on urinary calcium, urinary hydroxyproline, and calcium and phosphate balances were studied in intact and thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats. NH4Cl (2 g/100 g diet) was administered for 16 days to growing rats consuming a low calcium (0.1% Ca) diet. NH4Cl increased urinary calcium and hydroxyproline. NH4Cl caused greater urinary calcium loss in TPTX than in intact rats, but hydroxyproline excretion in these groups was similar. Compensatory increases in net alimentary absorption of calcium and phosphate occurred in intact but not in TPTX rats. Urinary cAMP was depressed by thyroparathyroidectomy but was unaffected by NH4Cl. It is concluded that NH4Cl depresses renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and increases bone resorption in the presence and absence of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. However, our results suggest that parathyroid hormone plays an important calcium-sparing role, while calcitonin may act to limit the rate of bone resorption, in intact rats during chronic administration of NH4Cl.