The effects on anterior pituitary hormone secretion of salmon calcitonin in healthy volunteers.

The reports of the effect of calcitonin on pituitary function are confusing and often refer to uncontrolled studies. We have now carried out a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of intravenous and subcutaneous salmon calcitonin on anterior pituitary function in 17 healthy volunteers. Visual analogue scores for the nausea and vomiting seen after salmon calcitonin correlated with the rise in ACTH and, secondarily, cortisol. Calcitonin had no effect on growth hormone, prolactin, thyrotrophin, luteinizing hormone or follicle stimulating hormone. It is concluded that the stimulation of ACTH secretion following a single dose of salmon calcitonin is probably the result of the stress of nausea rather than a direct effect on the pituitary.