Summary
In vitro and animal studies have pointed out complex interrelations between gastrointestinal
hormones and calcitonin. To analyse the acute effects of calcitonin in more detail,
patients undergoing surgery were infused intravenously with synthetic salmon calcitonin,
a potent analog of the human hormone. Samples were taken after 0, 30 and 60 minutes
from the hepatic, portal and a peripheral vein. Somatostatin and gastrin were determined
by radioimmunoassay.
The mean basal levels of Somatostatin in peripheral and hepatic venous plasma (14.2
and 15.6 pg/ml) were significantly lower than in portal plasma (45.6 pg/ml), indicating
effective removal by the liver. After infusion of calcitonin there was a general rise
in Somatostatin levels and an increase in the gradient between hepatic and portal
blood.
Basal gastrin levels were highest in the portal vein when compared intraindividually.
The differences disappeared after calcitonin infusion with a concomitant systemic
reduction of gastrin levels. Thus, calcitonin is able to stimulate the secretion of
Somatostatin from the gastrointestinal tract and does reduce gastrin secretion, possibly
via the stimulation of Somatostatin secretion.
Key-Words
Salmon Calcitonin
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Somatostatin
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Gastrin
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Pancreatitis
