Calcitonin treatment and plasma prolactin levels in pregnant and lactating ewes.
The intravenous injection of a physiological dose of salmon calcitonin (0.5 microgram/kg bw) in 5 ewes on day 125 of gestation induced a slight but significant hypocalcaemia. It had no significant effect on plasma prolactin levels. Ten days after parturition the same dose of salmon calcitonin given in a similar manner to 5 ewes has no effect on suckling-induced prolactin release, although it significantly decreased plasma calcium concentration. This demonstrates that short-term changes in plasma calcitonin concentration have no effect on basal plasma prolactin concentration or on suckling-induced prolactin surge in ewes.
D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007774:Lactation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
D011388:Prolactin; D002116:Calcitonin