The biological properties of a new synthetic analog of parathyroid hormone-related protein [PTHrP-(7-34)NH2] were examined in vivo using a well characterized thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rat model. The phosphaturic and urine cyclic AMP response induced by infusion of PTHrP-(1-34)NH2 (0.16 nmol/h) was inhibited by 70% (P less than 0.01, n = 6) by co-infusion of PTHrP-(7-34)NH2 at a 10-fold molar excess (1.6 nmol/h). The 7-34 PTHrP analog also antagonized the PTHrP-(1-34)NH2-induced hypercalcemia and rises in blood 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations. However, when infused alone at a higher dose rate (8 nmol/h), PTHrP-(7-34)NH2 displayed significant PTH agonist activity. This profile contrasts to that of [Tyr-34]bPTH-(7-34)NH2 which is comparatively less potent (10-20-fold) with respect to its antagonist activity but has no appreciable agonist activity in vivo.