Lack of effect on ovariectomy on the metabolism of vitamin D and intestinal calcium-binding protein in female rats

Intestinal Ca2+ absorption revisited: A molecular and clinical approach

Ca2+ has an important role in the maintenance of the skeleton and is involved in the main physiological processes. Its homeostasis is controlled by the intestine, kidney, bone and parathyroid glands. The intestinal Ca2+ absorption occurs mainly via the paracellular and the transcellular pathways. The proteins involved in both ways are regulated by calcitriol and other hormones as well as dietary factors. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) is a strong antagonist of vitamin D action. Part of the intestinal Ca2+ movement seems to be vitamin D independent. Intestinal Ca2+ absorption changes according to different physiological conditions. It is promoted under high Ca2+ demands such as growth, pregnancy, lactation, dietary Ca2+ deficiency and high physical activity. In contrast, the intestinal Ca2+ transport decreases with aging. Oxidative stress inhibits the intestinal Ca2+ absorption whereas the antioxidants counteract the effects of prooxidants leading to the normalization of this physiological process. Several pathologies such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, Turner syndrome and others occur with inhibition of intestinal Ca2+ absorption, some hypercalciurias show Ca2+ hyperabsorption, most of these alterations are related to the vitamin D endocrine system. Further research work should be accomplished in order not only to know more molecular details but also to detect possible therapeutic targets to ameliorate or avoid the consequences of altered intestinal Ca2+ absorption.

The role of vitamin D in the endocrinology controlling calcium homeostasis

Vitamin D and its' metabolites are a crucial part of the endocrine system that controls whole body calcium homeostasis. The goal of this hormonal control is to regulate serum calcium levels so that they are maintained within a very narrow range. To achieve this goal, regulatory events occur in coordination at multiple tissues, e.g. the intestine, kidney, bone, and parathyroid gland. Production of the vitamin D endocrine hormone, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2 D) is regulated by habitual dietary calcium intake and physiologic states like growth, aging, and the menopause. The molecular actions of 1,25(OH)2 D on calcium regulating target tissues are mediated predominantly by transcription controlled by the vitamin D receptor. A primary role for 1,25(OH)2 D during growth is to increase intestinal calcium absorption so that sufficient calcium is available for bone mineralization. However, vitamin D also has specific actions on kidney and bone.

Calbindin-D9k mRNA expression in the rat uterus following exposure to methoxychlor: a comparison of oral and subcutaneous exposure

Calbindin-D(9k) (CaBP-9k) is a cytosolic calcium-binding protein that is induced by estrogenic compounds possibly through estrogen receptors. We compared CaBP-9k mRNA expression in the uterus with uterotrophic response in immature rats exposed to methoxychlor (MC), an environmental chemical with estrogenic activity. MC was orally or subcutaneously administered to 3-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 days. The weights of the uterus and vagina significantly increased in the oral treatment group at a dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, but those of the subcutaneous (SC) treatment group only increased at 200 mg/kg. Northern blot analysis showed that CaBP-9k mRNA expression was significantly induced in a dose-dependent manner at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day in the oral treatment group. SC administration of MC induced significant expression at only a dose of 200 mg/kg/day; this was similar to the uterotrophic response. MC has an estrogenic effect on the uterus as shown by the increase in weight and induction of CaBP-9k mRNA expression, which were much greater following exposure via oral gavage than via the SC route. The strong correlation between the results of in vivo uterotrophic assay and CaBP-9k mRNA expression suggests that CaBP-9k mRNA expression in the rat uterus may be used as an early gene marker for detection of the estrogenic effects of putative environmental chemicals.

Effects of combined and separate intermittent administration of low-dose human parathyroid hormone fragment (1-34) and 17 beta-estradiol on bone histomorphometry in ovariectomized rats with established osteopenia

To evaluate the potential use of a combination of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and estrogen as therapy for osteoporosis, we examined the effects of combined and separate administration of low-dose PTH and estradiol in ovariectomized rats with established osteopenia. Ovariectomized rats were untreated for 5 weeks after surgery and then injected s.c. with vehicle (Ovx + V), 1-34 hPTH (2.5 micrograms/kg/day) (Ovx + P), 17 beta-estradiol (50 micrograms/kg/day) (Ovx + E), or a combination of these (Ovx + P + E), for a further 4 weeks. We found no differences in serum calcium, tubular reabsorption of phosphate, or 25OHD. 1,25(OH)2D levels were significantly higher in Ovx + P and lower in Ovx + E, when compared with Ovx + V. Though there was no change in bone mineral density (BMD) in the diaphysis region of femurs, reduction of BMD in the distal region of the femurs in Ovx + V was reversed in Ovx + E and Ovx + P + E. Compared with Ovx + V, Ovx + P and Ovx + P + E had significantly higher cancellous bone volume (Cn-BV/TV) whereas Ovx + E showed a nonsignificant increase. When indices of bone turnover were examined, PTH alone showed a small but not significant improvement in bone formation rate (BFR). Increased osteoclast surface (OCS), as the result of ovariectomy, was inhibited in Ovx + E and Ovx + P + E. Estrogen alone (Ovx + E) severely inhibited BFR, but co-administration of PTH and estrogen (Ovx + P + E) showed an impressive reversal of such inhibition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preexisting bone loss associated with ovariectomy in rats is reversed by parathyroid hormone

Previous studies have demonstrated that when parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration to rats is started immediately following ovariectomy, it prevents bone loss due to ovarian hormone deficiency. In this study, we examined whether bone loss induced by ovariectomy could be reversed by parathyroid hormone if hormone therapy is started after the bone loss had already occurred. In the first experiment, two groups of animals were ovariectomized or sham operated, killed after 40 days, and their bones examined to ensure that bone loss occurred. In the second experiment, three groups of rats were studied. Group 1 rats were sham operated, and rats in groups 2 and 3 were ovariectomized. Each rat in group 3 received a single subcutaneous injection of 8 micrograms parathyroid hormone [hPTH-(1-34); Bachem, CA] per 100 g body weight per day, starting 40 days following ovariectomy. Rats in groups 1 and 2 received solvent vehicle, and all animals were sacrificed on day 60. Ovariectomized rats had lost an appreciable amount of bone 40 days after surgery, as indicated by a significant decrease in femoral and vertebral densities and calcium and an over 55% loss of cancellous bone in the tibial metaphysis. The loss of bone was reversed by intermittent PTH administration. Increased cancellous bone in the parathyroid hormone-treated ovariectomized rats was associated with increased trabecular osteoblasts, decreased trabecular osteoclasts, and increased serum osteocalcin and urinary hydroxyproline. Our findings indicate that parathyroid hormone can substantially augment bone mass after the loss due to ovarian hormone deficiency has already occurred. The hormone caused positive bone balance in vivo in ovarian hormone-deficient animals by increasing bone formation and decreasing bone resorption.

Effect of dihydrotachysterol on bone induction in ovariectomized rats

We have demonstrated via marrow stromal cell cultures and the osteoinductive response to demineralized bone grafts (DBM) that the cortical bone deficit in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat (6 weeks postop) is primarily due to impaired osteoprogenitor cell proliferation, and that dihydrotachysterol (DHT) treatment can be protective. In cultured marrow stromal cells from OVX rats, short-term DHT-Rx exaggerated the already subnormal pattern of marrow stromal cell proliferation. However, in DBM grafts, DHT treatment benefited the time-course of mesenchymal cell DNA synthesis as measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation and osteogenic cell maturation as measured by alkaline phosphatase concentration, and established a suggestive trend toward normalization of bone formation/mineralization (24 h 45Ca incorporation). The data from this animal model infer that DHT could moderate the bone loss normally seen in ovariectomized rats via an activation of the osteoprogenitor cell population.

Developmental changes in duodenal calcium transport in female rats related to ovarian hormone status and growth rate

Duodenal active calcium (Ca) transport is known to decrease with age in male rats. The present studies were undertaken to extend this observation to female rats, and to determine whether alterations in active Ca transport are related to sexual maturation in the female. Everted duodenal sacs from intact and ovariectomized (ovx) rats were used to measure duodenal active Ca transport. Female rats were raised from weaning, and Ca transport was measured at 2-week intervals until 12 weeks of age. Transport rates were found to be the highest from 4 to 6 weeks of age, and then to decline over the next 4-6 weeks. However, if females were ovx as weanlings, the age-related decline in Ca transport failed to occur. Ovariectomy of immature females also prevented the slowing of growth rate which normally accompanies sexual maturation in female rats. We therefore repeated the experiment, pair-feeding the ovx animal to intact controls to maintain normal growth rates. When growth was normalized in this manner, the Ca transport rate in ovx animals declined with age at the same rate as in intact animals. Since ovx of sexually mature rats has been reported to increase growth rate, we studied the relationship between duodenal Ca transport and growth rate in females ovx at 12 weeks of age and pair-fed to age-matched intact females. After 5 weeks, ovx was found to have resulted in an increase in both weight and duodenal active Ca transport relative to the intact animals. Ovariectomy did not alter circulating levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)