Responses of serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels as well as parathyroid gland and calcitonin producing C cells of Rattus norvegicus to Mipcin administration.

Serum calcium (Ca) level of Rattus norvegicus ranged between 13.08 +/- 0.41 - 13.25 +/- 0.39 mg/100 ml whereas serum inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration varied between 4.21 +/- 0.28 - 4.33 +/- 0.26 mg/100 ml. Sublethal (0.50 LD50 and 0.75 LD50) administration of Mipcin induced a progressive dose-dependent decline in serum Ca level in the rat which was statistically significant at 7 and 14 days. Serum inorganic phosphate level of the treated rats did not exhibit significant fluctuation during the entire course of investigation. Parathyroid chief cells of the experimental rats exhibited degranulation, vacuolation, loss of secretory (hormone) granules and lipid droplets, decreased chromatin in nuclei and damages in the endoplasmic reticulum as well as cristae of mitochondria at 14 days of the treatment. Not much of changes could be seen in the oxyphil cells of parathyroid as well as thyroid C cells of the Mipcin-treated rats.