Effect of salmon calcitonin on plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate levels of the grey quail, Coturnix coturnix coturnix Linnaeus

Abstract

Intraperitoneal (ip) administration of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in dose of 2.0 MRC unit/0.2 ml/100 g body weight (single injection) elicited significant (P<0.02) hypocalcemia at 1/2 an hour in the intact Coturnix coturnix coturnix. Though the levels of plasma Ca of the intact quails remained depressed up to 2 hr but the differences were not statistically significant. Parathyroidectomized (PTX) birds exhibited frank hypocalcemia (P<0.05) to sCT treatment only at 24 hr. Exogenous sCT injection induced insignificant decline in plasma Pi values of the intact as well as PTX quails. Ultimobranchial gland (UBG) of the birds possessed the accessory parathyroid tissue which probably prevented tetanic convulsions and death in PTX quails.