Transient response of the calcium homeostatic system of the conscious pig to bolus calcium injections.

Calcium injection in the pig elicits a fast transient response which reinstates the calcium concentration to within normal limits between 30 and 40 min after injection. Although the fate of the calcium that disappeared is not known, the present experiments eliminate the kidneys and the bone remodeling cells as the main short-term regulators. The fast response is independent of parathyroid hormone but is greatly dependent of calcitonin. Further experiments are being performed to discover the nature and site of the regulating mechanisms.