Calcium metabolism of pregnant rats fed a vitamin D-depleted diet

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 441 - 443
• Main Authors: Yamagishi, N.(Iwate Univ., Morioka (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture), Sassa, H, Sato, R, Taniguchi, K, Okura, N, Sato, S, Naito, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01-04-2007; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Animals; CALCIO; CALCIUM; Calcium - blood; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium - urine; CARENCE EN VITAMINE; DEFICIENCIA DE VITAMINAS; DIET; DIETA; Feces - chemistry; Female; Femur - chemistry; Fetal Development - physiology; GESTACION; GESTATION; HIPOCALCEMIA; HYPOCALCAEMIA; HYPOCALCEMIE; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; PREGNANCY; Pregnancy Complications - blood; Pregnancy Complications - metabolism; RAT; RATA; RATS; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; VITAMIN D; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D Deficiency - metabolism; VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES; VITAMINA D; VITAMINE D
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.69.441

The effects of vitamin D (VD) deficiency on calcium (Ca) metabolism during pregnancy were evaluated in rats fed VD-repleted (VD-repleted rats) and VD-depleted (VD-depleted rats) diets. In the VD-depleted rats, the plasma concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and Ca decreased severely, whereas the parathyroid hormone concentrations increased. The Ca contents of the feces of the VD-depleted rats were higher than those of the VD-repleted rats. The fetal Ca contents of the VD-repleted and VD-depleted rats increased continuously, but that of the VD-depleted rats was lower. These data reveal that VD deficiency during pregnancy induces severe hypocalcemia due to reduced intestinal absorption of Ca and elevated fetal demand for Ca.