Regulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d3 by calcium in the parathyroidectomized, parathyroid hormone-replete rat

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Abstract
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a major stimulus for the renal production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3]. Elevated arterial blood ionized calcium ([Ca2+]) depresses serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 in nonparathyroidectomized rats even when serum PTH is maintained at high levels by infusion. However, suppression by [Ca2+] of endogenous PTH, causing the fall in 1,25-(OH)2D3, cannot be excluded. To determine whether [Ca2+] regulates 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the absence of a variation in PTH, we parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats (post-PTX calcium levels 2+] by infusing either 75 mM sodium chloride (control), 0.61 μmol/min of EGTA (EGTA), or calcium chloride at 0.61 μmol/min (low calcium) or 1.22 μmol/min (high calcium) for 24 h 5 days after surgery. Blood was then drawn from the rat through the arterial catheter. Compared with the control, [Ca2+] fell with EGTA, remained constant with the low-calcium infusion, and rose with the high-calcium infusion. 1,25-(OH)2D3 was correlated inversely with [Ca2+] in all four groups together (r = −0.635, n = 34, p < 0.001), within the control group alone (r = −0.769, n = 11, p < 0.002), and within the EGTA group alone (r = −0.774, n = 10, p < 0.003). Serum phosphorus, PTH, and arterial blood pH were not different in any group, and none correlated with serum 1,25-(OH)2D3. We conclude that 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels are regulated by [Ca2+] independently of serum PTH, phosphorus, and acid-base status, all of which support the hypothesis that [Ca2+] is a principal regulator of serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the rat.
Funding Information
  • National Institutes of Health (AM-33949, AR-39906, AM-35065)