Morphological and ultrastructural aspects of the activation of avian medullary bone osteoclasts by parathyroid hormone.

The activation of physiologically inactive medullary bone osteoclasts by parathyroid hormone (PTH) was examined using light and electron microscopy and histomorphometric methods. Medullary bone osteoclasts are functionally inactive during the avian egg-laying cycle when an egg shell is not being calcified in the shell gland. Japanese quail hens were given 0.5 IU/g PTH and the medullary bone osteoclasts were examined up to 90 min later. Administration of PTH results in rapid changes in osteoclast morphology and ultrastructure. Within 10 min ectoplasmic regions containing condensed-appearing material are evident in areas of the cell adjacent to bone surfaces. In tannic acid-fixed specimens, these ectoplasmic regions contain bundles of filaments extending perpendicularly from the osteoclast plasma membrane into the cytoplasm. It is in these areas that ruffled border development is initiated. Even at 10 min after PTH administration, mineral crystals are seen between the developing cell surface invaginations and folds. By 15 min after PTH administration, ruffled borders have appeared next to bone surfaces. The rapid development of ruffled borders on medullary bone osteoclasts after PTH is confirmed by electron microscope histomorphometry. By 30 min after PTH administration, ruffled borders are well developed and large endocytic vacuoles are beginning to appear in the osteoclast cytoplasm. Light microscope histomorphometric measurements indicate that osteoclasts are also increasing in size and spreading along bone surfaces with time after PTH administration. This study provides a morphologic and ultrastructural description of osteoclast activation by PTH. The results indicate that osteoclasts may effect rapid changes in bone resorption and mineral metabolism due to exogenous PTH in hens.