Biologic effects of large C-terminal parathyroid hormone (PTH) fragments, opposite to those of N-terminal PTH, have been demonstrated. C-terminal PTH fragments are co-secreted with N-terminal PTH from the parathyroids. The aim of our study was to examine whether C-terminal PTH 7-84 regulates secretion of PTH 1-84 and affects the expression of genes of relevance for parathyroid function, PTH, calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), PTH type 1 receptor (PTHR1), and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) genes in rat parathyroid glands. PTH 7-84 induced a significant decrease in plasma Ca 2؉ in rats with intact parathyroid glands. Despite the reduction of plasma Ca 2؉ , no stimulation of PTH 1-84 secretion took place. Furthermore, the PTH 1-84 secretory response to EGTA-induced acute and severe hypocalcemia was significantly inhibited by PTH 7-84. During recovery from hypocalcemia, plasma Ca 2؉ levels were significantly lower in the PTH 7-84 -treated group, as compared with the vehicle group, and at the same time plasma PTH 1-84 levels were significantly suppressed. The expression of PTH, CaR, PTHR1, and PTHrP genes in the rat parathyroid glands was not affected by PTH 7-84. The peripheral metabolism of PTH 1-84 was not affected by PTH 7-84. PTH 7-84 did not cross-react with the rat bioactive PTH 1-84 assay. In normal rats with intact parathyroid glands, PTH 7-84 inhibited the PTH 1-84 secretory response to hypocalcemia and induced a significant decrease in plasma Ca 2؉ . These effects of PTH 7-84 on PTH 1-84 secretion and on plasma Ca 2؉ levels were not associated with significant changes in PTH, PTHR1, CaR, and PTHrP gene expressions in the rat parathyroid glands. It is hypothesized that PTH 7-84 regulates PTH secretion via an autocrine/paracrine regulatory mechanism.