Morphology of thyroid C-cells and parathyroid glands in summer-active little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus lucifugus, with particular reference to pregnancy and lactation |
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Authors: | G G Kwiecinski W A Wimsatt L Krook |
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Abstract: | Morphological studies of thyroid C-cells and morphometric analyses of parathyroid glands in summer-active little brown bats indicated concomitant regulatory endocrine functions correlating with bone remodeling. C-cells apparently maintain maximal activity throughout the summer-active period in all bats. However, the hyperactivity of the parathyroid glands in summer-active female bats can be correlated with the maintenance of plasma calcium concentrations during lactation, when the female skeleton undergoes a period of bone demineralization. In summer-active male bats, which did not lose bone, the parathyroid glands did not show morphological evidence of hyperactivity; instead they were found to exhibit moderate parathyroid activity. |
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