EFFECTS OF CALCITONIN ON BONE QUALITY AND OSTEOBLASTIC FUNCTION

Calcitonin is a naturally occurring calciotropic hormone which plays a n important physiologic role in mineral and skeletal homeostasis. The salmon species of calcitonin (SCT) is currently being used therapeutic ally in pharmacologic doses for the treatment of skeletal conditions i n which there is a component of excessive bone resorption, including o steoporosis, Paget's disease, malignant hypercalcemia, Sudeck's atroph y, familial hyperphosphatasemia, osteogenesis imperfecta, renal osteod ystrophy, and painful bony metastases. A consideration of the effects of SCT on animal and human skeletal integrity and bone quality permits further insight into the spectrum of calcitonin effects. The studies reviewed herein have investigated the effects of calcitonin on paramet ers indicative of bone quality, including quantitative effects on bone mass, histomorphometric assessment of skeletal architecture, mechanic al properties, ultrasound parameters, and fracture incidence. In addit ion, relevant data from in vivo and in vitro studies of the anabolic e ffects of calcitonin are also reviewed as an osteoblastic action of ca lcitonin may have clinical relevance.