Effects of calcitonin and ultimobranchialectomy (UBX) on calcium and bone metabolism in the eel, Anguilla anguilla L.

Prolonged administration of synthetic salmon calcitonin (SCT) to immature female silver eels, maintained in sea water, provoked a decrease of the serum calcium concentration and an increase of both the osteoblastic apposition and of the degree of mineralization of the intercellular matrix in the vertebral bone. The osteoclastic resorption and osteocytic osteolysis were not significantly affected, however the osteoclastic index was reduced. The ultimobranchial body, site of CT secretion, was cauterized in immature female silver eels maintained in Ca++ rich tap water. This operation resulted in a rise in serum calcium levels with a maximal response after two weeks. After UBX, the vertebral bone osteoblastic apposition stopped completely but the osteoclastic resorption was not modified. The degree of osteocytic osteolysis did not vary. We also observed a significant decrease in the degree of mineralization of the bone organic matrix. The observations made after UBX confirm those obtained after exogenous CT treatment. SCT administered preventively to immature female eels (maintained in sea water), before experimental maturation, inhibited, at least partially, the acute osteoclastic resorption and completely inhibited the bone demineralization induced by carp pituitary extract. The increase of osteocytic ostelysis, usually observed, did not appear.