Abstract
This study evaluates the utility of the rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatta ) as a model for calcitonin (iCT) dynamics in humans. Two different anticalcitonin antisera were used, each having different region specificities for the hormone. Basal levels of iCT in both serum and urine were lower than those encountered in humans, whether measured with midportion (Ab-IIIb) or carboxyl terminal (Ab-IV) antisera. The totally thyroidectomized monkey continues to have detectable serum iCT while, in contrast to humans, urine iCT is undetectable by direct assay but measurable after concentration. Immunoperoxidase studies revealed a relatively larger concentration of C cells in the thyroid of the monkey, with, as in humans, a distribution in the central region along the median axis of the lateral lobes. Extraction of iCT from the thyroid gland demonstrated a higher concentration in the monkey than in humans. Many extrathyroidal tissues of the monkey contained iCT, which did not differ immunochemically from that in thyroid; this finding is also true of comparable human tissue. The very high concentration of iCT in liver decreased markedly after thyroidectomy, suggesting that hepatic iCT may be receptor-bound hormone of thyroid origin. Other extrathyroidal sources of iCT persisted after thyroidectomy in the monkey, with the highest concentrations being found in thymus and in lung. The demonstration of the presence of extrathyroidal iCT may have important implications for its function as a tumor marker and for its presumed role in calcium metabolism. These studies demonstrate that the rhesus monkey, regardless of some differences from man, is nonetheless a useful animal model for the investigation of the pathophysiology of calcitonin.
Résumé
L'étude analyse la possibilité d'utiliser le singe rhesus (Macaca mulatta) comme modèle pour la dynamique de la calcitonine (iCT) chez l'homme. Deux antisérums différents ont été employés, chacun d'entre eux étant spécifique pour un segment de la molécule hormonale. Mesurés avec l'antisérum pour la portion moyenne (Ab-IIIb) ou l'antisérum pour le terminal carboxyle (Ab-IV), les taux de base d'iCT dans le sérum et l'urine sont plus bas chez le rhesus que chez l'homme. Après thyroidectomie totale, il persiste, chez le singe comme chez l'homme, de l'iCT le sérum; dans les urines cependant, iCT n'est plus détectable chez le singe par essai direct, mais peut Être dosé après concentration. Les études à l'immunoperoxydase révèlent des concentrations assez importantes de cellules C dans la thyroide du singe; comme chez l'homme, elles sont surtout localisées dans la région centrale, le long de l'axe médian de chaque lobe thyroidien. L'extraction d'iCT de la glande thyroide donne des concentrations plus élevées chez le singe que chez l'homme. Comme chez l'homme, de nombreux tissues extrathyroidiens du singe contiennent une iCT qui ne diffère pas de l'iCT thyroidienne au point de vue immunochimique. La concentration très elevée d'iCT dans le foie se réduit fortement après thyroidectomie, ce qui suggère que l'iCT hépatique peut Être une hormone d'origine thyroidienne fixée sur un récepteur. Après thyroidectomie chez le singe, il persiste d'autres sources extrathyroidiennes d'iCT, les concentrations les plus élevées étant trouvées dans le thymus et le poumon. La démonstration de cette iCT extrathyroidienne peut avoir des implications importantes pour son rÔle en tant que marqueur tumoral et pour sa fonction dans le métabolisme calcique. Ces études démontrent que, malgré certaines différences entre l'homme et le singe rhesus, celui-ci est un modèle utile pour étudier la physiopathologic de la calcitonine.
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Supported in part by the Ella O. Latham Trust, Washington, D.C.
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Geelhoed, G.W., Becker, K.L., O'Neill, W. et al. Calcitonin studies in the rhesus monkey. World J. Surg. 5, 579–586 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01655013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01655013