Evidence for Thyrocalcitonin in Man.

Abstract

Summary and conclusions

The response to a hypercalcemic stimulus was studied in normal subjects and in treated hypo thyroid patients. There was no difference between the groups in the fasting plasma calcium or the plasma calcium increment immediately following the calcium infusion. However, the disappearance of the plasma calcium increment was markedly prolonged in the treated hypo-thyroid patients. These observations are interpreted as indirect evidence for the presence and homeostatic function of thyrocalcitonin in man, and a deficiency of thyrocalcitonin in patients with reduced or absent functional thyroid tissue. The full physiological significance of thyrocalcitonin in human calcium homeostasis is not clear.