Radioimmunoassay of parathyroid hormone (parathyrin) in monkey and man.

A radioimmunoassay for rhesus monkey and human immunoreactive parathyrin was developed in which a selected anti-bovine parathyrin antiserum, radioiodinated purified bovine parathyrin tracer, and human parathyroid tissue-culture media standards were used. The resulting data indicate that (a) the method is sensitive, specific, accurate and reproducible; (b) it is valid for both the rhesus monkey and the human; (c) the serum immunoreactive parathyrin concentration of the monkey is essentially the same as that in man; (d) monkey immunoreactive parathyrin responds to changes in serum calcium concentration similarly to that in man; and (e) the rhesus monkey is therefore a suitable species in which to study parathyroid physiology, from which conclusions can be applied to the human.