Peripheral administration of eel calcitonin inhibits thyrotropin secretion in rats

The effects of peripheral administration of eel calcitonin on thyrotropin (TSH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) secretion were studied in rats. Eel calcitonin (50 U/kg) was injected i.v. The hypothalamic immunoreactive TRH (ir-TRH) contents increased significantly after calcitonin injection. Plasma TSH levels decreased in a dose-related manner with a nadir at 30 min after the injection. The plasma ir-TRH and TSH responses to cold as well as the plasma TSH response to TRH were inhibited by calcitonin. The inhibitory effect of calcitonin on TSH levels was prevented in the haloperidol-, pimozide- or p-chlorophenylalanine-pretreated group, but not in the L-DOPA- or 5-hydroxytryptophan-pretreated group. The findings suggest that calcitonin acts on both the hypothalamus and the pituitary to inhibit TRH and TSH release, and that its effects may be modified by amines of the central nervous system.