Effect of synthetic human parathyroid hormone on the levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and formation of alkaline phosphatase-rich matrix vesicles by primary cultures of chicken epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes.

The effect of synthetic human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) on the formation of matrix vesicles (MV), and on the rate of cell division, production of cellular alkaline phosphatase (AP) and protein by primary cultures of chicken epiphyseal growth plate hypertrophic chondrocytes was investigated. Addition to serum-containing or serum-free media of physiological levels of hPTH, in a range from 0.1 to 10 nM, caused a progressive decrease in the formation of AP-rich MV. However, studies on incorporation of [3H]choline into MV indicate that MV formation per se was not significantly decreased. hPTH was found to markedly decrease the expression of cellular AP, accompanied by an increase in cell division [( 3H]thymidine incorporation) and protein synthesis. Since these effects of hPTH were augmented by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and mimicked by the cAMP analogue N6,O2'-dibutyryl-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic-monophosphate (DBcAMP), the findings clearly indicate that hPTH was acting through the classic cAMP-mediated mechanism. Inasmuch as elevation of AP in growth plate chondrocytes coincides with MV formation, maturation and hypertrophy of the cells, and induction of mineralization, the stimulation of cell division and suppression of cellular AP indicates that hPTH would cause the cells to revert to a less differentiated state. Thus, elevation in PTH, which results from lowered circulating levels of Ca2+, should inhibit mineral deposition in the growth plate. This may be a physiological protective mechanism to prevent a further drain on serum Ca2+.