EXPERIMENTAL FIBROUS OSTEODYSTROPHY (OSTITIS FIBROSA) IN HYPERPARATHYROID DOGS

These experiments have shown that parathyroid extract (parathormone Collip) can be injected into puppies in increasing amounts for long periods without fatal results. Thus time is allowed for bone changes to develop. Long continued injection leads to progressive decalcification and resorption of the existing bone, to fibrous replacement of the marrow, and to the production of the other features characteristic of ostitis fibrosa. Deformities eventually appear. It is safe to assume that the bone changes produced by hyperparathyroidization have the same pathogenesis as those observed in clinical cases believed to be instances of hyperparathyroidism—that is, cases with a negative mineral balance and decalcification of the skeleton.