Samples of CSF and plasma were obtained simultaneously from 46 adult patients who had no endocrine disorders and were undergoing routine diagnostic lumbar puncture because of suspected or proved prolapse of a disc. Concentrations of 25-OHD, 24,25(OH)2D and 1,25(OH)2D were measured. The samples were purified by column chromatography and fractionated by HPLC. In the appropriate fractions the vitamin D metabolites were measured by PBA, and cytoreceptor assay. The results were as follows (median, range in brackets): 25-OHD in CSF 8.3 ng/ml (2.0-24.8), in plasma 14.5 ng/ml (7.0-36.0). 24,25(OH)2D in CSF 1.8 ng/ml (0.3-4.6) and 2.5 ng/ml (0.4-4.7) in plasma. 1.25(OH)2 D in CSF 25.0 pg/ml (2.2-39.0) and 31.0 pg/ml (10.1-55.0) in plasma. The correlations between plasma and CSF concentrations were as follows: 25-OHD r = 0.479 (P less than 0.001); 24,25(OH)2D r = 0.815 (P less than 0.001) and for 1.25(OH)2D r = 0.497 (P less than 0.001). Our findings showed vitamin D metabolites to be present in human CSF.

No abstract

We have investigated the synthesis in vitro of calcitonin (CT) by human placenta at term. Separate placental tissue samples were incubated in culture medium with various Ca concentrations for 6 h. The CT concentrations in the medium were determined by radio-immunoassay. In addition the effect of DB-cAMP on the synthesis was also studied. We could demonstrate CT secretion in all experiments. The CT concentrations were determined by two different antibodies. Both antibodies registered the CT secretion. Addition of DB-cAMP to the culture medium stimulates the synthesis.

No abstract

The concentrations of magnesium and total calcium human vitreous humors obtained postmortem was tested. In the groups of heart disease and asphyxia a correlation between the postmortem interval and calcium or magnesium concentrations was found. There was no correlation between postmortem interval and calcium respectively magnesium in the other causes of death. It seems possible that the analysis of vitreous humor may be useful in both diagnosis and determination of postmortem interval in the cases of heart death and asphyxia.