Calcitonin decreases serum calcium levels by inhibiting bone resorption and renal reabsorption of calcium. Parathyroid hormone can both increase and decrease serum calcium levels to maintain normal quantities by stimulating or inhibiting bone resorption and renal reabsorption. Calcitriol stimulates intestinal calcium absorption and increases serum calcium levels by acting on bone and kidneys to promote absorption and reabsorption.
1. Hormone Roles
Calcitonin
decreases serum calcium levels
Inhibits osteoclasts bone resorption
Inhibits tubular reabsorption by kidneys so calcium is excreted
in urine
April 30, 2014
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2. Hormone Roles
April 30, 2014
Image from:
http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/thyr
oid/pth_targets.gif
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Parathyroid hormone
can increase or decrease serum calcium levels to keep it within
normal quantities
4. 3
Calcitriol
Hormonal form of vitamin D
Stimulates intestinal calcium absorption
Also functions on the bone and kidney to increase serum
calcium levels
Image from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56060/figure/ch2.f1/?r
eport=objectonly
6. Regulation of calcium hormones:
Calcitonin- if blood/serum calcium levels are higher than usual,
calcitonin hormone is released from the thyroid gland to lower
levels back to normal. This is done through various pathways
including hindering bone resorption and kidney tubular
reabsorption thus excreting calcium in urine.
Parathyroid- the parathyroid gland has calcium level sensing
receptors which secrete parathyroid hormone when levels are
too high / too low and need to get back within normal range.
Like calcitonin, this is accomplished through various pathways
including stimulating bone resorption to increase extracellular
7. calcium levels. Also, it indirectly increases levels by
stimulating calcitriol production which leads to enhanced
calcium absorption from the intestine. Finally, it suppresses
calcium loss in urine by stimulating kidney tubular
reabsorption. Conversely, it decreases calcium levels if its
receptors sense too high calcium levels. This is done by a
feedback mechanism which turns the receptors off thus stopping
the secretion of parathyroid hormone. Moreover, calcitriol
receptors work in a feedback manner to suppress parathyroid
hormone production.
Calcitriol (Vitamin D3) - increases calcium levels by
encouraging the expression of several proteins whose function
involves transporting calcium from the intestinal lumen into the
blood. Also, it acts on bone to increase calcium levels by
inducing the expression of osteocalcin. Finally, it acts on the
kidney to increase calcium levels by stimulating tubular
reabsorption. As stated in the previous paragraph, it works in a
feedback way to decrease calcium levels if too high.
PTG- parathyroid gland
PTH- parathyroid hormone
“C” cells- parafollicular cells in thyroid gland
CT- calcitonin