INVIVO AND INVITRO EFFECTS OF STANNIUS CORPUSCLE EXTRACT ON THE BRANCHIAL UPTAKE OF CA-45 IN STANNIECTOMIZED NORTH-AMERICAN EELS (ANGUILLA-ROSTRATA)

Stanniectomized eels became hypercalcemic and developed a greater rate of branchial 45Ca influx than did control animals. Both of these disturbances could be prevented by the postoperative injection of previously acidified or unacidified extracts of Stannius corpuscles. The increased rate of branchial 45Ca influx into the isolated perfused poststanniectomized eel gills could also be depressed by the addition of Stannius corpuscle extract to the perfusion fluid. We concluded that Stannius corpuscles contain an acid-stable hypocalcemic factor which exerts its effect on calcium homeostasis by directly attenuating the rate of branchial calcium influx. © 1979.