Thyroid origin of calcitonin.

GV Foster, A Baghdiantz, MA Kumar, E Slack… - Nature, 1964 - cabdirect.org
GV Foster, A Baghdiantz, MA Kumar, E Slack, HA Soliman, I MacIntyre
Nature, 1964cabdirect.org
An elaborate technique involving the addition of Ca to plasma, perfused from a carotid
artery, by passage through one ion-exchange column and its removal by another before
return of the blood to a systemic vein, described by Kumar et al.(Lancet, 1963, ii, 480), was
used to perfuse one thyroid gland (containing a parathyroid gland) or one isolated
parathyroid gland, in goats where the external parathyroids have an independent blood
supply from the carotid artery. Glands on the opposite side of the neck were removed …
Abstract
An elaborate technique involving the addition of Ca to plasma, perfused from a carotid artery, by passage through one ion-exchange column and its removal by another before return of the blood to a systemic vein, described by Kumar et al.(Lancet, 1963, ii, 480), was used to perfuse one thyroid gland (containing a parathyroid gland) or one isolated parathyroid gland, in goats where the external parathyroids have an independent blood supply from the carotid artery. Glands on the opposite side of the neck were removed. Perfusion of the parathyroid alone had no effect on the level, estimated by flame spectrophotometry, of Ca or Mg in plasma. Perfusion of the thyroid reduced systemic plasma Ca by from 10 to 22, average 15%, without altering plasma Mg. From the upper part of the thyroid removed, free from parathyroid tissue, an acid extract was prepared and injected into goats. This autogenous thyroid extract, equivalent to about 5% of the total thyroid tissue of the goat, had an effect like that of perfusion with blood of high Ca content. It is concluded, therefore, that the calciumreducing hormone, named calcitonin and attributed by Copp et al.(Absts. 5499, 3797, 3798, Vol. 32) to the parathyroid, on the basis of perfusion experiments with dogs where the parathyroid cannot be perfused separately from the thyroid, does exist, but is produced by the thyroid.-I. Leitch.
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