Effects of cholecalciferol on the translocation of calcium by non-everted ileum in vitro

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Abstract
An apparatus is described that allows perfusion of a non-everted segment of intestine in vitro and the study of the accumulation of substances within the mucosal cells. The translocation of Ca2+ by rachitic-chick ileum and the effect of pretreatment with cholecalciferol was investigated, with the following conclusions. (1) Entry of Ca2+ across the microvilli into mucosal cells is by diffusion; it does not require metabolic energy or the presence of any other inorganic ions. (2) Pretreatment of the chick with cholecalciferol causes increased permeability of the microvillus to Ca2+ in both directions (lumen to cell, cell to lumen). The increased transport brought about by cholecalciferol in vivo can be partially mimicked by sodium dodecyl sulphate added in vitro. (3) The sign and the magnitude of the electrical potential difference prevailing across the ileum does not influence Ca2+ transport. (4) Exit of Ca2+ from the mucosal cell is temperature-sensitive, requires metabolic energy and Na+. (5) Pretreatment with cholecalciferol caused increased movement of Ca2+ out of the cell across the basement membranes. This effect of cholecalciferol given in vivo could be markedly increased by the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide in the perfusion fluid. These observations suggested that cholecalciferol increased Ca2+ entry (and exit) at the mucosal surface and also caused Ca2+ to be more available to the pump at the serosal surface.