Summary. Intravenous (i.v.) injection of lead acetate produces an immediate elevation in total plasma calcium and phosphate levels. This is due to the formation of calcium-phosphate compounds which can be removed by centrifugation at 25,000 • g. For this study, the effect of salmon calcitonin (CT) on these lead-induced plasma changes was studied. Intact male rats (175-250 g) were injected i.v. with lead acetate 10-30 mg/kg. Sodium acetateinjected rats served as controls. CT (0.1-0.2 mU/g) injected 30 min prior to lead modified the lead-induced plasma changes as follows: The concentration of lead remaining in plasma was statistically reduced. This was accompanied by a decrease in the amount of colloidal calcium-phosphate removed by ultracentrifugation and a corresponding decrease in the lead-induced elevation of total plasma calcium and phosphate levels. This action of CT was still effective in acutely nephrectomized rats. However, a 15-day pretreatment with a diphosphonate (20 mg EHDP/kg/day) abolished the hypocalcemic effect of CT and also abolished the ability of CT to affect the lead-induced plasma changes. Finally, CT was ineffective if injected in as short a time period as 30 min after lead injection.It is concluded from these studies that CT causes a rapid sequestering of lead from plasma into specific sites in bone. Previous reports show that within minutes after injection, CT causes the formation of calcium-phosphate complexes in fluid at the surfaces of bone and in osteocyte lacunae. It is postulated that lead reacts with these colloids (complexes) in a manner similar to its attachment to calcium and phosphate in plasma, thereby removing this lead from blood.Send qffprint requests to Dr. Roy V. Talmage at the above address.