Abstract
Synthetic salmon calcitonin chronically administered i.m. to rabbits induces significant metabolic changes in their serum. Large doses of calcitonin (200 Medical Research Council units or 42 µg/kg b.wt. as total dose), in one month, produced a marked decrease of serum glucose levels, an increase of blood urea nitrogen and a decrease in serum potassium levels. Serum calcium and phosphorus were lowered, whereas, magnesium, sodium and chloride were not significantly affected. Short-term administration (a single i.m. injection of 50 Medical Research Council units or 10.5 µg per rabbit) induces some similar metabolic effects such as a decrease of serum glucose level, a slight increase of blood urea nitrogen and a significant decrease of calcium, phosphorus and potassium levels. Magnesium, sodium and chloride levels remained unchanged. These hypoglycemic, hypokalemic, hyperazotemic, hypocalcemic and hypophosphatemic effects indicate that salmon calcitonin in large doses induces important biochemical changes in rabbit serum and thus exerts pharmacologic effects in this species.
Footnotes
- Received May 24, 1973.
- Accepted October 4, 1973.
- © 1974 by The Williams & Wilkins Co.
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