Summary
An electron microscope investigation has been carried out on needle biopsies of the iliac crest of 8 patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism.
A marked increase in bone resorption was the most conspicuous finding. It was due both to increased osteoclastic activity and to periosteocytic osteolysis. The osteoclasts had a more strongly developed brush border and contained more cytoplasmic vacuoles than those in controls. Many osteocytes were found within enlarged, irregular lacunae, and were surrounded by a space containing amorphous, granular and filamentous material. Their mitochondria were sometimes calcified. Osteoblasts were more active than in controls as shown by the developed rough ergastoplasmic cysternae and thick osteoid borders found near some of them. The osteoid tissue, however, was uncalcified; ultrastructurally, lack of the calcification front and incomplete matrix calcification were demonstrable. Mast cells, and osteoclast- and macrophage-like giant cells were often found in the fibrotic marrow spaces.
These results confirm that both the resorption and the formation of bone are stimulated in hyperparathyroidism. The calcification process is delayed and often remains incomplete.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bélanger, L.F.: Osteocytic resorption. In: The Biochemistry and Physiology of Bone (Bourne, G.H., ed.), Vol. 3, p. 239. New York and London: Academic Press 1971
Bijvoet, O.L.M., Morgan, B.: The tubular reabsorption of phosphate in man. In: Phosphate et Métabolisme Phosphocalcique (Hioco, D.J., ed.), p. 153. Paris: L'Expansion Scientifique 1971
Bonucci, E., Gherardi, G.: Osteocyte ultrastructure in renal osteodystrophy. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 373, 213–231 (1977)
Bordier, P.J., Woodhouse, N.J.Y., Sigurdsson, G., Joplin, G.F.: Osteoid mineralization defect in primary hyperparathyroidism. Clin. Endocrinol. 2, 377–386 (1973)
Boyce, D., Jowsey, J.: Measurements of osteoid tissue in primary hyperparathyroidism. Mayo Clin. Proc. 41, 836–838 (1966)
Cameron, D.A.: The ultrastructure of bone. In: The Biochemistry and Physiology of Bone (Bourne, G.H., ed.), Vol. 1, p. 191. New York and London: Academic Press 1972
Cameron, D.A., Paschall, H.A., Robinson, R.A.: Changes in the fine structure of bone cells after the administration of parathyroid extract. J. Cell Biol. 33, 1–14 (1967)
Delling, G.: Endokrine Osteopathien. Verhandl. deutsch. Gesellsch. Path. 58, 176–192 (1974)
Goldhaber, P.: Bone-resorption factors, cofactors, and giant vacuole osteoclasts in tissue culture. In: The Parathyroid Glands (Gaillard, P.J., Talmage, R.V., Budy, A.M., eds.), p. 153. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press 1965
Holtrop, M.E., King, G.J.: The ultrastructure of the osteoclast and its functional implications. Clin. Orthop. 123, 177–196 (1977)
Holtrop, M.E., Raisz, L.G., Simmons, H.A.: The effects of parathyroid hormone, colchicine, and calcitonin on the ultrastructure and the activity of osteoclasts in organ culture. J. Cell Biol. 60, 346–355 (1974)
Jaffe, H.L.: Metabolic, Degenerative, and Inflammatory Diseases of Bone and Joints. München: Urban and Schwarzenberg 1972
Jowsey, J., Adams, P., Schlein, A.P.: Calcium metabolism in response to heparin administration. Calcif. Tiss. Res. 6, 249–253 (1970)
Krempien, B., Friedrich, G., Geiger, G., Ritz, E.: Factors influencing the effect of parathyorid hormone on endosteal cell morphology. A scanning electron microscope study. Calcif. Tiss. Res. 22, (suppl.), 164–168 (1977)
Lindenfelser, R., Schmitt, H.P., Haubert, P.: Vergleichende rasterelektronenmikroskopische Knochenuntersuchungen bei primÄrem und sekundÄrem Hyperparathyreoidismus. Zur Frage der periosteocytÄren Osteolyse. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 360, 141–154 (1973)
Lo Cascio, V., Cominacini, L., Corgnati, A., Adami, S., Galvanini, G., Bianchi, I., Scuro, L.A.: Primi rilievi sull'utilità del dosaggio radioimmunologico del PTH nella diagnosi di iperparatiroidismo primitivo. Minerva Endocrinol. 2, 19–27 (1977)
Maschio, G., Bonucci, E., Mioni, G., D'Angelo, A., Ossi, R., Valvo, E., Lupo, A.: Biochemical and morphological aspects of bone tissue in chronic renal failure. Nephron 12, 437–448 (1974)
Meunier, P., Bernard, J., Vignon, G.: La mesure de l'élargissement périostéocytaire appliquée au diagnostic des hyperparathyroidies. Path. Biol. 19, 371–378 (1971)
Miravet, L., Bordier, P., Matrajt, H., Gruson, M., Hioco, D., Rickewaert, A., DeSeze, S.: Le syndrome biologique de l'hyperparathyroidie. Ses variations en function des aspects radiologiques et des lésions anatomiques identifiées sur biopsie de la crÊte iliaque. Path. Biol. 15, 747–756 (1967)
Olah, A.J.: Quantitative relations between osteoblasts and osteoid in primary hyperparathyroidism, intestinal malabsorption and renal osteodystrophy. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 358, 301–308 (1973)
Parsons, J.A.: parathyroid physiology and the skeleton. In: The Biochemistry and Physiology of Bone (Bourne, G.H., ed.), Vol. 4, p. 159. New York and London: Academic Press 1976
Remagen, W., Höhling, H.J., Hall, T.T., Caesar, R.: Electron microscopical and microprobe observations on the cell sheath of stimulated osteocytes. Calcif. Tiss. Res. 4, 60–68 (1969)
Schenk, R.K., Olah, A.J., Merz, W.A.: Bone cell counts. In: Clinical Aspects of Metabolic Bone Disease (Frame, B., Parfitt, A.M., Duncan, H., eds.), p. 103. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica 1973
Schulz, A., Bressel, M., Delling, G.: Activity of osteoclastic bone resorption in primary human hyperparathyroidism. A comparative electron microscopic and histomorphometric study. Calcif. Tiss. Res. 22, (supp.), 307–310 (1977)
Stanbury, S.W.: Osteomalacia. In: Clinics in Endocrinology and Metabolism; Vol. 1: Calcium Metabolism and Bone Disease (MacIntyre, I., ed.), p. 239. London, Philadelphia, Toronto: W.B. Saunders Co. 1972
Urist, M.R., McLean, F.C.: Accumulation of mast cells in endosteum of bones of calcium-deficient rats. Archs Path. 63, 239–251 (1957)
Weisbrode, S.E., Capen, C.C., Nagode, L.A.: Effects of parathyroid hormone on bone of thyroparathyroidectomized rats. Am. J. Path. 75, 529–542 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bonucci, E., Lo Cascio, V., Adami, S. et al. The ultrastructure of bone cells and bone matrix in human primary hyperparathyroidism. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 379, 11–23 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432779
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432779