Observations on the Parathyroid Glands of Guinea Pigs Affected with Metastatic Calcification.

Soft tissue calcification in guinea pigs has been attributed to a mineral imbalance, especially a relative or absolute magnesium deficiency. An associated chronic tubular nephritis has been reported and was substantiated in the present study. The location of the parathyroid glands of guinea pigs was established, and their size estimated by microscopic methods. The size and morphologic characteristics of parathyroids of guinea pigs affected with metastatic calcification were indistinguishable from parathyroids of healthy guinea pigs.