The effect of thyroidectomy on serum calcium and phosphorous levels in the pig

For many years it has been assumed that the level of calcium in the blood stream is controlled by a hormone secreted by the parathyroid gland. It has been adequately demonstrated that parathyroidectomy leads to hypocalcemia in many species. Conversely, the injection of the parathyroid hormone results in hypercalcemia in intact animals of the species studied.Recently, however, evidence has shown that there is a hypocalcemic inducing factor secreted by specific cells located in the thyroid gland.The objective of this study was to access the effect which thyroidectomy has upon blood levels of calcium and phosphorous and upon urinary excretion of calcium after hypercalcemia induced by intraperitoneal injection of calcium in pigs.