Paricalcitol treatment and arterial tone in experimental renal insufficiency.

Aim: To examine whether treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism with paricalcitol provides benefits to arteries in uremic rats.

Methods: 5/6-nephrectomized rats were treated (NX+Pari) or not treated (NX) with paricalcitol (200 ng/kg, thrice weekly) for 12 weeks. Aortic histology and isolated segments of the main and 2nd-order mesenteric arterial branches were studied.