The function of the parathyroid oxyphil cells in uremia: still a mystery?

Parathyroid glands of young adults consist primarily of chief cells. However, with age or after excessive functional stress, another cell type increases progressively-the oxyphil cell. There is evidence for a chief-to-oxyphil cell transdifferentiation in chronic kidney disease. The latter may represent a defense mechanism, transforming the actively secreting chief cells to a less actively secreting cell type. However, even if this strategy is able to delay the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism, it cannot prevent it.