Norihisa Kaida, Yuichi Sasayama
Zoological Science 20 (3), 353-356, (1 March 2003) https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.20.353
KEYWORDS: plasma calcitonin levels, plasma Ca levels, dynamics, stonefish, high Ca treatment
In stonefish, changes in plasma total Ca and calcitonin levels were examined after administration of a high-Ca solution into the stomach. Blood was taken successively at 0, 1, 3, 9, 33, and 81 hr from a fine tube cannulated into the aortic bulb. Plasma Ca levels increased acutely at 1 hr and attained the peak after 3–9 hr of the administration. Although plasma calcitonin levels did not exhibit conspicuous changes for 1–3 hr, they began to rise significantly at 33 hr. The plasma Ca level began to decline significantly at 33 hr, although the level was still significantly higher than the initial level. At 33 hr, however, the plasma calcitonin level still continued to increase. At 81 hr, the plasma Ca level had returned to the initial level. At that time, the plasma calcitonin level was also significantly lower than that at 33 hr. These results suggest that, in stonefish, the ultimobranchial gland has the ability to respond physiologically to rises in plasma Ca levels, to secrete calcitonin, and to cease the secretion when the plasma Ca levels return to the initial level.