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Is calcitonin an important physiological substance?

Philip F Hirsch¹, Hans Baruch

¹University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. pfhirsch@med.unc.edu

|September 30, 2003

Summary

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Calcitonin (CT) is not essential for calcium homeostasis in mammals, despite historical beliefs. Its survival is likely due to its gene

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Evolutionary Biology
Calcium Metabolism

Background:

Calcitonin (CT) was historically believed to be crucial for calcium homeostasis.
This belief stemmed from observations of CT's hypocalcemic effects at high doses.

Purpose of the Study:

To re-evaluate the physiological role of calcitonin in mammals.
To investigate the evolutionary significance of calcitonin and its gene.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on calcitonin function and evolution.
Comparative analysis of calcitonin's potency across species.

Main Results:

No clear pathology arises from CT excess or deficiency in mammals.
Mammalian CT at physiological doses is not essential for calcium regulation.

Related Experiment Videos

The calcitonin gene likely persists due to its alternate splicing for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).

Fish CT is significantly more potent than human CT, suggesting evolutionary loss of function.

Conclusions:

Calcitonin does not play a vital role in mammalian calcium homeostasis.
CT's primary function may be vestigial or related to skeletal protection during calcium stress.
Paracrine functions of CT in other tissues exist, but its overall importance has diminished through evolution.