Organ culture of human parathyroid glands: Effects of catecholamines

Normal and adenomatous human parathyroid glands were studied in organ culture to determine basal secretory rates of cyclic AMP and parathyroid hormone as well as sensitivity to β-adrenergic catecholamines. Basal cyclic AMP secretion was relatively constant over 4 weeks but parathyroid hormone secretion declined. Both normal and adenomatous tissue were stimulated to secrete cyclic AMP and parathyroid hormone in the presence of the β agonist, isoproterenol. Half-maximal stimulation for adenomas occurred at 1 μM. Propranolol, a β-adrenergic inhibitor, completely prevented the response, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at 0.1 μM. Under basal conditions, normal explants secreted significantly more cyclic AMP and parathyroid hormone than adenomas. The results indicate that both normal and adenomatous human parathyroid glands can be maintained in organ culture for up to 4 weeks and that β-adrenergic catecholamines can stimulate the secretion of cyclic AMP and parathyroid hormone.