Hypotensive actions of snake parathyroid glands.

Parathyroid gland extracts from four different snake species, Ptyas korros, Ptyas mucosa, Elaphe radiata, and Naja naja, were prepared and their hypotensive actions were assayed in anesthetized P. korros. All extracts were hypotensive and the responses, except that of N. naja, were dose related. Their potencies were, however, different in different species. These data suggest that the hypotensive property of the parathyroid hormone is probably widely distributed in submammalian vertebrates.