Mice lacking the vitamin D receptor exhibit impaired bone formation, uterine hypoplasia and growth retardation after weaning

1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3[1 alpha,25(OH)2D3], an active form of vitamin D, has roles in many biological phenomena such as calcium homeostasis and bone formation, which are thought to be mediated by the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Howev...

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Published in:	Nature genetics Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 391 - 396
Main Authors:	Yoshizawa, Tatsuya, Handa, Yuki, Uematsu, Yoshikatsu, Takeda, Shu, Sekine, Keisuke, Yoshihara, Yuko, Kawakami, Toru, Arioka, Kouki, Sato, Hiroshi, Uchiyama, Yasushi, Masushige, Shoichi, Fukamizu, Akiyoshi, Matsumoto, Toshio, Kato, Shigeaki
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London Nature Publishing Group 01-08-1997
Subjects:	Alopecia - etiology Alopecia - genetics Animals Biological and medical sciences Body Weight Bone Development - genetics Bone Development - physiology Calbindins Cell Line Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids Durapatite - pharmacology Female Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Gene Deletion Gene Expression Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution Growth Disorders - genetics Humans Male Mice Osteopontin Receptors, Calcitriol - genetics Receptors, Calcitriol - physiology Rickets S100 Calcium Binding Protein G - genetics Sialoglycoproteins - genetics Uterus - abnormalities Vertebrata Weaning Hypoplasia Animal model Targeting Deficiency Rodentia Growth retardation Ossification Vertebrata Phenotype Mammalia Gene Mouse Vitamin D Development Mutation Bone Vitamin D dependent rickets Biological receptor
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Summary:	1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3[1 alpha,25(OH)2D3], an active form of vitamin D, has roles in many biological phenomena such as calcium homeostasis and bone formation, which are thought to be mediated by the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. However, the molecular basis for the actions of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 in bone formation, its role during development and VDR genetic polymorphisms for predicting bone mineral density are uncertain. To investigate the functional role of VDR, we generated mice deficient in VDR by gene targeting. We report here that in VDR null mutant mice, no defects in development and growth were observed before weaning, irrespective of reduced expression of vitamin D target genes. After weaning, however, mutants failed to thrive, with appearance of alopoecia, hypocalcaemia and infertility, and bone formation was severely impaired as a typical feature of vitamin D-dependent rickets type II (refs 8, 9). Unlike humans with this disease, most of the null mutant mice died within 15 weeks after birth, and uterine hypoplasia with impaired folliculogenesis was found in female reproductive organs. These defects, such as alopoecia and uterine hypoplasia, were not observed in vitamin D-deficient animals. The findings establish a critical role for VDR in growth, bone formation and female reproduction in the post-weaning stage.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:	1061-4036 1546-1718
DOI:	10.1038/ng0897-391