Thyroid C cell function during fasting and refeeding of young and old rats

Age-related alterations in the structure and function of many organs often become apparent under stimulation of their function. Although the ageing process affects the regulation of mineral homeostasis, the function of thyroid C-cells that secrete calcitonin (CT) under the conditions of fasting and refeeding, a way of dietary manipulation that reveal the existence of age-related changes of follicular thyroid cells, has not been characterized. Therefore, we investigated the number of C-cells and serum CT concentration in young (4 mo) and old (26 mo) male rats fasted for 48 hours, and then refed for 4 or 24 hours. We found significantly higher number of C-cells in thyroids of old vs young rats both under basal conditions, and after fasting/refeeding. Correspondingly, serum calcitonin level was higher in fed or fasted old rats vs young ones. However, in young rats refeeding decreased, whereas in old animals increased serum concentrations of calcitonin. Thus, the control of serum calcium concentration, that was well preserved in old rats, occurs at the expense of increased serum CT level both under basal conditions, and after refeeding. These observations suggest that C-cell function is altered in ageing.