Gallium nitrate (GaN) reduces cancer-related hypercalcemia and inhibits bone resorption in vitro. This study investigated the effects of chronic GaN administration on bone, kidney, and parathyroid gland activity of growing rats. Experimental animals received GaN (1.75 mg elemental gallium i.p. QOD X 8, Ga+), and controls received the solvent (Ga-). In the bone of Ga+ rats the number of osteoclasts was increased (Ga+: 70.4 +/- 2.31 osteoclasts/mm2; Ga-: 46.5 +/- 1.61 osteoclasts/mm2, P less than 0.001), and apposition rate and osteoid width were unchanged. Ga was concentrated in bone (2.4 mumol/g cortical bone) and detected by electron microprobe on the surface of a few trabeculae. Alkaline (Alp) and acid (Acp) phosphatase activities were higher in Ga+ than in Ga- calvaria (Ga+: Alp 223 +/- 23.4 U/mg prot, Ga-: Alp 145 +/- 13.3 U/mg prot, P less than 0.02; Ga+: Acp 69.5 +/- 4.7 U/mg prot, Ga-: 57.5 +/- 2.8 U/mg prot, P less than 0.05). Serum iPTH was increased (Ga+: 112.9 +/- 17.6 pg/ml, Ga-: 41.4 +/- 7.4 pg/ml, P less than 0.01), serum calcium was reduced (Ga+: 2.4 +/- 0.02 mmol/l, Ga-: 2.6 +/- 0.03 mmol/l, P less than 0.001); calciuria remained comparable to controls. Relative to the hypocalcemia this suggests renal loss of Ca. The calcemic response to hPTH 1-34 (i.v. 50 micrograms/kg) was decreased 2 hours after injection of the hormone (delta Ca: TPTX Ga+: 0.11 +/- 0.04 mmol/l, Ga-: 0.33 +/- 0.03 mmol/l P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Summary. The present study was undertaken to test the in vitro action of aluminum on bone phosphatase activities and the possible interaction of this metal with parathyroid hormone (bPTH) or vitamin D3 dihydroxymetabolites [1,25-and 24,25(OH)2D3). Three-day-old rat calvaria were incubated for 24 h with one of the following: bPTH at 5 • 10-SM, 1,25-or 24,25(OH)2D3 at 2.5 • 10-9M, A1 at concentrations ranging from 3 • 10-11M to 6 • 10-6M, or their corresponding solvents. AI effects were also investigated when the medium phosphate or calcium concentrations were modified. In some experiments, A1 was added simultaneously with bPTH or one of the vitamin D3 metabolites at the beginning of the 24 h incubation. At the end of all incubations, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were measured in bone cytoplasmic extract. The results show that: (a) When compared to the value found in half calvaria incubated in a control medium, the bone acid and alkaline phosphatase content is significantly higher in paired halves incubated with A1 (3 • 10-'IM to 1.5 • 10-6M) as well as with bPTH, 1,25-, or 24,25(OH)2D3 and sharply decreased with higher A1 concentrations (6 • 10-6M). (b) The A1 effect on phosphatase activities is modified in a free phosphate or a free calcium medium.