A transient increase in serum calcitonin (CT) concentration is induced by an acute iv calcium (Ca) load, whereas in the chronic hypercalcemic state, serum CT levels, as well as CT content of the thyroid, are equivocal. The secretion of CT was tested in three models of hypercalcemia in rats: tumor induced by the hypercalcemic Walker carcinosarcoma 256 (HWCS 256), chronic parenteral Ca administration, and chronic 1,25(OH)2D3 administration. In rats with HWCS 256, serum CT levels increased from basal values of 0.21 +/- 0.11 ng/ml to a maximum of 0.42 +/- 0.20 ng/ml on day 4 after tumor transplantation, 1 day before serum Ca increased. The serum CT levels declined again the following day (day 5). In thyroidectomized, parathyroid autotransplated rats with HWCS 256, serum Ca increased 1 day earlier than in intact rats. Substitution of CT by exogenous CT injections delayed the hypercalcemia for one day. Ca loading was followed by a decreased serum CT level (delta CT); the CT content of the thyroid fell from 9.4 +/- 1.1 ng/mg wet wt to 1.0 +/- 0.3 ng/mg wet wt. While hypercalcemia was present. Also chronic intraperitoneal Ca administration induced a decrease in the CT response to a Ca load (delta CT) and a decrease in thyroid CT content from 9.32 +/- 0.58 ng/mg wet wt to 3.84 +/- 0.33 ng/mg wet wt. These changes were no longer present 4 days after stopping Ca administration. In chronic hypercalcemia induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 administration, basal serum CT levels did not vary significantly, whereas serum Ca increased to 11.8 +/- 0.46 mg/dl on day 4. CT after an acute Ca load was diminished, as was CT content of the thyroid during 1,25(OH)2D3 administration. These changes were reversible after stopping 1,25(OH)2D3 administration. During chronic hypercalcemia a reversible exhaustion of CT content of the thyroid and a diminished CT response to acute Ca stimulation was observed, while basal serum CT levels remained unchanged.