The effect of calcitonin (synthetic [Asu1,7]eel) on the exchangeable Ca2+ transport was investigated in isolated rat hepatocytes by measuring 45Ca2+ uptake. Calcitonin (CT) increased the uptake of Ca2+ with 74.3 pM giving a half-maximal effect. The action of CT was evident within 5 min after the hormone addition to the cells, and the increase in Ca2+ uptake was maintained during 60 min. The increase in Ca2+ uptake caused by CT was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ concentration. On the other hand, the activity of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase in hepatocytes was significantly increased by addition of CT (74.3 pM) to the cells in the presence of 1.3 mM Ca2+, while the hormonal effect was not seen in the absence of added Ca2+. The presence of Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (0.1 and 1.0 microM) abolished the increase in enzyme activity caused by CT addition to the cells. It is proposed that CT can increase the rate of uptake of exchangeable CA2+ by hepatocytes, and that the hormone causes the elevation of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity which is mediated through Ca2+.