Ultimobranchial neoplasms from 5 bulls (hat were extracted and assayed individually contained approximately 68% as much calcitonin activity (452 ± 68 MRC mU/g) as thyroid glands from control bulls (663 ± 165 MRC mU/g). These results were consistent with the ultrastructural finding that thyroid neoplasms in old bulls were composed of primitive ultimobranchial cells which contained few mature secretory granules characteristic of parafollicular (C-) cells. Significant difference in calcitonin concentration was not detected between thyroid glands of control cows (617 ± 106 MRC mU/g) and bulls without ultimobranchial neoplasms.
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