INFLUENCE OF PARATHORMONE ON THE PRODUCTION OF DENTAL CARIES IN RATS

¹ Department of Pharmacology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University

Although the rat is comparatively resistant to parathormone, repeated small doses produced a distinct effect on the teeth and jaw bones. The dental pathology was similar in character to that found in animals whose calcium-phosphorus metabolism was disturbed by other means such as faulty diet, and calcium-phosphorus mobilization by excessive amounts of viosterol.

Diets, which altered the calcium-phosphorus metabolism, augmented the pathological manifestations produced by parathormone. In the animals receiving complete diets the pathology produced by parathormone was most obvious. In the dietary deficient groups, the dental abnormalities produced by the dietary calcium-phosphorus unbalance partially masked the similar changes produced by parathormone. In these groups, however, although the reactions were similar in character, the lesions were much more advanced.

The findings demonstrate the importance of the relationship of endocrine activity of the parathyroid glands to the dental structures, by influencing the inorganic salt metabolism.