Calcium and Phosphorus Homeostasis in the Parathyroidectomized Dog; Evaluation by Means of Ethylenediamine Tetraacetate and Calcium Tolerance Tests*

In an experiment designed to determine whether or not homografts of parathyroid tissue would survive and function in millipore diffusion chambers, Wilson, Zollinger, Mahan and Brooks (1) subjected female mongrel dogs to parathyroidectomy either in two stages or as a single procedure. Twelve animals with trans- plants survived the acute postoperative period with its attendant severe hypocalcemia, but all re- quired intensive parenteral calcium support for periods ranging from 19 to 78 days. This supportive therapy could eventually be stopped, and 11 of these dogs were perfectly well in all respects for two to five months prior to removal of their transplants. The range of the serum calcium level was 9 to 11 mg per 100 ml in six of them, and 7 to 8 mg per 100 ml in the other five. How- ever, after all of the millipore chambers were re- moved, there was little or no alteration in their clinical status or their serum calcium levels. The dogs were followed for two and one-half to four months after the chambers were excised, and the only shift in the level of serum calcium that oc- curred was in one dog, which, with a serum cal- cium initially in the 7 to 8 mg per 100 ml range, was later able to maintain a consistent value of 9.0 mg per 100 ml.