Effects of intravenous calcitonin on water, electrolyte, and calcium movement across in vivo rabbit jejunum and ileum.

The influence of intravenously administered synthetic salmon calcitonin on water, electrolyte and calcium fluxes in in vivo rabbit jejunum and ileum was examined. Rabbits were divided into four groups: those receiving (1) saline intravenously while a glucose-free isotonic saline solution perfused the jejunum and ileum; (2) calcitonin intravenously while the same intestinal perfusate was used as in group 1; (3) intravenous saline while 10 mM glucose-isotonic saline solution perfused jejunum and ileum; and (4) intravenous calcitonin while the intestinal perfusate was of the same composition as in group 3. Calcitonin provoked a significant increase in jejunal and ileal water, sodium, and bicarbonate secretion in both the glucose-free and glucose-containing perfusate groups. No influence on calcium movement was noted. These results, similar to findings of Gray et al. (J Clin Invest 52:3084-3088, 1975) in human jejunum, suggest that calcitonin may play a role in the pathogenesis of the watery diarrhea noted in about one-third of patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. In addition, these studies demonstrate the usefulness of the rabbit as an animal model with which to investigate further the effects of calcitonin upon intestinal fluid and electrolyte transport.