The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 123 male subjects was studied by RIA for the presence of immunoreactive calcitonin (CT). The hormone could be detected in the CSF of 75% of 63 subjects at a mean (+/- SE) concentration of 11.1 +/- 1.3 pg/ml, with a range of less than 2 to 55 pg/ml. In 31 subjects, simultaneous measurements were made of CSF and plasma CT and there was not significant correlation between them. Column chromatography of a lyophilized pool of CSF from 60 of the subjects demonstrated that most of the CT immunoreactivity eluted with or after radioiodinated human CT. Our studies demonstrate the presence of immunoreactive CT in human CSF but do not provide any direct evidence regarding the source of the immunoreactivity.

Recent evidence has indicated that a fast circadian oscillator or pacemaker might contribute to affective illnesses, particularly manic depressive disease. In order to test the hypothesis that lithium exerts its therapeutic effect by slowing or delaying overly fast circadian rhythms, 95 rats were fed a lithium-containing diet for a period of 3–4 weeks, and 91 rats were fed a control diet. The animals were sacrificed at times around the clock. Eight of the eleven substances measured (plasma prolactin, PTH, corticosterone, and aldosterone, serum calcium and magnesium, and cerebellar calcium and magnesium) showed large delays in their circadian rhythms in the lithium-fed rats. This supports the hypothesis that lithium’s therapeutic action is to delay overly fast circadian rhythms.

A case of significant hepatic reaction related to imipramine is presented, documented by challenge with imipramine and liver biopsy. The mechanism, while not entirely clear, is presumed to involve hypersensitivity or induction of toxic metabolites.

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