Hypercalcemic effect of insulin in thyroparathyroidectomized alloxan-treated rats

The acute effect of a hypoglycaemic dose of 0.5 U/100 g BW insulin administered intramuscularly on calcium metabolism was investigated in fasted alloxan-treated rats. It was found that the hypercalcaemic effect of insulin was evident only in thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) and not in parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats. A subcutaneous administration of 180 MRC mU/100 g BW calcitonin abolished the calcium raising effect of insulin in TPTX rats suggesting a protective role of calcitonin against insulin action in intact rats. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of the calcium raising effect of insulin 45Ca administered intravenously was used to indicate the movement of calcium from the plasma pool. Insulin administration delayed the plasma 45Ca disappearance rate but had no effect on bone 45Ca uptake within 120 min. In contrast, insulin administration resulted in a 31% reduction of urinary 45Ca excretion while the urine volume remained unchanged. However, the insulin-induced reduction of urinary calcium excretion could not totally account for the calcium raising effect of insulin in TPTX animals.     

Effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the relative contributions of skeletal 45Ca and intestinal 40Ca to blood calcium in normal and thyroparathyroidectomized dogs

The effects of gradually increasing doses of 1,25(OH)2D3 on plasma calcium and 45Ca radioactivity were studied in young dogs that had been extensively prelabelled with 45Ca. The effects of orally and intravenously administered 1,25(OH)2D3 were evaluated in normal and thyroparathyroidectomized dogs fed a normal diet. In normal dogs when 1,25(OH)2D3 increased the plasma calcium within the normal range (2.9-3.1 mmol/L) there was no significant increase in plasma 45Ca. In thyroparathyroidectomized dogs, oral or intravenous 1,25(OH)2D3 increased the low blood calcium to a normal level (1.8-2.9 mmol/L) without significantly increasing plasma 45Ca. In normal and thyroparathyroidectomized dogs, any 1,25(OH)2D3-induced increase in plasma calcium above the normal range was associated with a significant increase in 45Ca, indicating mobilization of bone calcium. Intravenous administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the normal or thyroparathyroidectomized dogs had a much larger effect than oral doses in mobilizing bone 45Ca when inducing a similar level of hypercalcemia. The major physiological effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the low or normal range of plasma calcium is on intestinal absorption of calcium without a significant effect on mobilizing bone calcium. The pharmacological effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 in vivo is to mobilize bone calcium as well as dietary calcium into blood.     

Is hypercalcemic diet a possible antidote to oral contraceptive-induced hypertension?

Administration of oral contraceptive (OC) has been associated with body fluid retention and in high doses over a long period, promotes hypertension. This present investigation tests the hypothesis that the dietary calcium supplementation increases salt and water excretion in OC (norgestre/ethinylestradiol) treated 32 female albino rats randomly distributed into four (1-4) groups of 8 rats each: Control, OC-treated, OC-treated+ Calcium diet fed and Calcium diet fed only respectively. OC was administered to the appropriate groups by gavage. Experimental diet contained 2.5% calcium supplement. Plasma and urinary [Na+] [K+] were evaluated after 8 weeks of experimentation by flame photometry and plasma [Ca2+] by colorimetric method. OC-treatment induced a significant fall in urinary [Na+]. Water excretion was significantly reduced in these animals (control, 3.1±0.56 Vs OC-treated rats, 1.47±0.16). OC-treated rats had significantly higher plasma [K+] compared to control rats. Calcium supplementation induced increases in plasma [Na+], [K+] and augmented urinary Na+ excretion (OC-treated + Ca2+ diet Vs OC-treated only). Compared with the control rats, high Ca2+ diet fed rats exhibited significant increases in plasma [Na+] and [K+] accompanied by significant decreases in urinary H20 excretion. These results strongly suggest that high dietary Ca2+ supplementation increases salt and water excretion in OC-treated rats and potentially moderates fluid retention and blood pressure in these animals, and may be of clinical significance in OC-induced abnormal fluid retention and perhaps OC-induced hypertension.Keywords: Hypercalcemic-diet, Oral contraceptive, Plasma electrolytes, Hypertension, Female-albino-rats.     

Excess calcium increases bone zinc concentration without affecting zinc absorption in rats

We examined zinc (Zn) metabolism in rats given diets containing excess calcium (Ca). Rats were given phytate-free diet containing 5 g Ca/kg (control), 12.5 g Ca/kg, or 25 g Ca/kg for 4 wk in Experiment 1. The dietary treatment did not affect Zn concentration in the plasma, testis, kidney, spleen and liver; however, Zn concentration in the femur and its cortex was significantly higher in rats given diet containing 25 g Ca/kg than in other rats. Rats were given phytate-free diet containing 5 g Ca /kg or 25 g Ca /kg for 4 wk in Experiment 2. After 12-h food deprivation, rats were given a diet extrinsically labeled by 67Zn with dysprosium as a fecal marker for 4 h. Feces were collected from 1 d before administration of the labeled diet to 5 d after administration. Excess Ca did not affect the true absorption of Zn and its endogenous excretion but increased femoral Zn. These results suggest that excess Ca improves Zn bioavailability without affecting Zn absorption when diets do not contain phytate.     

Endogenous prolactin modulated the calcium absorption in the jejunum of suckling rats

Prolactin has been reported to stimulate intestinal calcium absorption in young and mature, but not aging rats. The present study was performed on suckling rats to elucidate the actions of endogenous prolactin on calcium absorption in various intestinal segments. Before measuring the calcium fluxes, 9-day-old rats were administered for 7 days with 0.9% NaCl, s.c. (control), 3 mg/kg bromocriptine, i.p., twice daily to abolish secretion of endogenous prolactin, or bromocriptine plus exogenous 2.5 mg/kg prolactin, s.c. Thereafter, the 16-day-old rats were experimented upon by instilling the 45Ca-containing solution into the intestinal segments. The results showed that, under a physiological condition, the jejunum had the highest rate of calcium absorption compared with other segments (1.4 +/- 0.35 micromol.h-1.cm-1, p < 0.05). The duodenum and ileum also manifested calcium absorption, whereas the colon showed calcium secretion. Lack of endogenous prolactin decreased lumen-to-plasma and net calcium fluxes in jejunum from 2.07 +/- 0.31 to 1.19 +/- 0.12 and 1.40 +/- 0.35 to 0.88 +/- 0.18 micromol.h-1.cm-1 (p < 0.05), respectively, and exogenous prolactin restored the jejunal calcium absorption to the control value. Endogenous prolactin also had an effect on the duodenum but, in this case, exogenous prolactin did not reverse the effect of bromocriptine. However, neither ileal nor colonic calcium fluxes were influenced by prolactin. Because luminal sodium concentration has been demonstrated to affect calcium absorption in mature rats, the effect of varying luminal sodium concentrations on calcium fluxes in suckling rats was evaluated. The jejunum was used due to its highest rate of calcium absorption. After filling the jejunal segments with 124 (control), 80, 40 mmol/L Na+-containing or Na+-free solution, increases in calcium absorption were found to be inversely related to luminal sodium concentrations in both control and bromocriptine-treated rats. The plasma concentration of 45Ca under luminal sodium free condition was also higher than that of the control condition (2.26% +/- 0.07% vs. 2.01% +/- 0.09% administered dose, p < 0.05). However, 3H-mannitol, a marker of the widening of tight junction that was introduced into the lumen, had a stable level in the plasma during an increase in plasma 45Ca, suggesting that the widening of tight junction was not required for enhanced calcium absorption. In conclusion, calcium absorption in suckling rats was of the highest rate in the jejunum where endogenous prolactin modulated calcium absorption without increasing the paracellular transport of mannitol.     

甲状旁腺高血压因子和甲状旁腺素对细胞钙通道的不同作用

1989年Lewanczuk等[1]报道在自发性高血压大鼠（spontaneouslyhvnertensiverat,SHR）的血浆中发现一种具有独特升压效应的高血压因子．通过激活平滑肌细胞膜钙通道,提高细胞内游离钙（[Ca2 ]）水平起作用．随之证明这种循环血中的高血压因子来源于甲状旁腺,故称“甲状旁腺高血压因子（Parathyroidhypertensivefactor,PHF）”[2]。我们经实验研究证明,当给SD（Sprague-Dawley）大鼠注射经透析的SHR血浆后30min其血压开始升高,45min达高峰,60min恢复到注射前水平．同时经透析的血浆可使SD大鼠尾动脉条的细胞45Ca2 摄取增加,其…     

Calcium transport from blood into the bile in normal and regenerating rat liver

We have studied calcium movement from blood into the bile by injecting 45Ca2+ intravenously and measuring the radioactivity appearing in the bile. 45Ca2+ started to appear in the bile at 3 min and maximum values were observed at 5 min after its administration. The amount of calcium secreted into the bile was proportional to the blood calcium concentration indicating that the main pathway involved in calcium movement behaved as a non-saturable system. We have also studied the 45Ca2+ circulation from blood into the bile in rats subjected to a partial hepatectomy. Thereafter, the calcium transported into the bile per gram of liver increased by about 50 per cent. Since bile flow behaved in a similar way, the biliar calcium concentration remained unmodified after hepatectomy. Determination of the activities of the Ca2+ transporting systems in isolated plasma membrane fractions from regenerating livers showed no modification in these activities suggesting that the elevation in calcium movement observed after hepatectomy is not due to an increase in the circulation of Ca2+ through the transhepatocyte pathway, an observation compatible with the absence of saturation in the transport.     

Enhancement by lactosucrose of the calcium absorption from the intestine in growing rats

The effects of dietary lactosucrose on calcium absorption from the intestine and calcium accumulation in bones were investigated in growing female rats. The apparent calcium-45 ((45)Ca) absorption, residual (45)Ca ratio in the body, and (45)Ca accumulation in the femur and tibia of lactosucrose-supplemented rats were significantly higher than in control rats 24 h after the administration of a (45)CaCl(2) solution.     

Capacity of a low calcium diet to induce the renal vitamin D 1a-hydroxylase is decreased in adult rats

Young animals adapt to a low calcium diet by increasing renal production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], the active metabolite of vitamin D. However, the capacity of adult animals to adapt is markedly diminished. With the recent cloning of the cytochrome P450 component (CYP1a) of the renal 1-hydroxylase enzyme complex, it is now possible to determine directly the effect of dietary calcium and maturation on the expression of renal 1-hydroxylase. Using a ribonuclease protection assay, it was found that feeding a low Ca diet markedly increased renal CYP1a mRNA levels in young rats. However, feeding this diet to adult rats produced an increase in CYP1a mRNA that was only 10% that of the young rats. These studies demonstrate that a low calcium diet increases renal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D production in young animals but not in adult animals by increasing CYP1a expression. Since the low calcium diet increased plasma parathyroid hormone levels to similar levels in both age groups, this suggests that in the adult there is a renal refractoriness to parathyroid hormone.     

Effect of dietary calcium and phosphorus restriction on calcium and phosphorus balance in young and old rats

Previous studies have shown that the serum levels of the primary regulators of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) metabolism, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone, may change with age. Therefore, the effect of age on the ability of the rat to maintain a positive Ca and P balance was determined. Young (1.5 months) and old (18 months) rats were divided into three groups and fed either a low-Ca, high-P diet; a high-Ca, low-P diet; or a high-Ca, high-P diet. After 14 days, the young rats were in positive Ca and P balance regardless of diet. The old rats on the low-Ca, high-P diet were in negative Ca balance and positive P balance. The old rats on the other diets were in positive Ca and P balance. The negative Ca balance of the old rats was due to decreased intestinal absorption of Ca. Intestinal absorption was assessed by determining the percentage of dietary Ca absorbed in vivo and by measuring the active transport of Ca using the everted gut sac in vitro. Intestinal P absorption showed little change with age, except for a decrease in old rats on the high-Ca, low-P diet. Renal adaptation to dietary Ca and P restriction was similar in both young and old animals. Plasma Ca levels were unchanged with age, but plasma P levels decreased with age regardless of diet. These changes in Ca balance with age may reflect the reported decrease in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ levels and the slight increase in PTH levels with age. The inability of old rats to maintain a positive Ca balance in the face of Ca deprivation is consistent with a general characteristic of the aging process—the decreased ability of an organism to adapt to changes in the external environment.     

(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in plasma membrane of circulating mononuclear cells. Lack of a direct effect of vitamin D

The in vivo effect of vitamin D on (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was examined in a plasma membrane fraction of rat circulating mononuclear cells (MPM). Although there was no significant difference in the ATPase activities in red blood cell ghosts, (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in MPM was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in long-term vitamin D3-replete rats (100 IU/day for 6 months) than that in vitamin D-deplete rats (for 6 months). In rats maintained on vitamin D-deficient diets for 5-7 weeks, in vivo administration of either vitamin D3, 2,000 IU orally, 5 days prior to killing or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 2.4 nmol, intraperitoneally, 24 h prior to killing failed to show any significant effect on (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in MPM. (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in MPM from rats maintained on vitamin D-deficient diet with high calcium content (1.8%) was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than that from rats maintained on vitamin D-deficient diet with low calcium content (0.3%). Moreover, in vitro addition of vitamin D3 metabolites did not show any effect on (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in MPM. These data suggest that decreased (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in MPM from long-term vitamin D-deplete rats resulted from an adaptation to low extracellular calcium rather than vitamin D depletion.     

The rate and extent of calcium bioavailability from two oral dosage forms in rats

The purpose of the present work was to compare oral bioavailability of calcium from two calcium preparations, Calcium Sandoz forte 500 mg and Calcium Spofa effervescens. The pharmacokinetic study was carried out on rats, and plasma levels of 45Ca after administration of labelled calcium solutions were determined. Appropriate equations describing the two-compartment open model and the one-compartment model with first order absorption were fitted to the observed i.v. and oral data, respectively, using weighted nonlinear least-squares regression analysis. The extent and the time profile of the rate of 45Ca systemic bioavailability were assessed. Both parameters suggested identical bioavailability of calcium from the two dosage forms compared.     

Effects of soluble corn bran arabinoxylans on cecal digestion, lipid metabolism, and mineral balance (Ca, Mg) in rats

The effects of soluble corn bran arabinoxylans on cecal digestion, lipid metabolism, and mineral utilization [calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)] were investigated in rats adapted to semipurified diets. The diets provided either 710 g/kg wheat starch alone (control) or 610 g/kg wheat starch plus 100 g/kg corn soluble fiber (arabinoxylans) and either 0 or 2 g/kg cholesterol (control + cholesterol and arabinoxylans + cholesterol, respectively). Compared with rats fed the control diets, rats fed the arabinoxylan diets had significant cecal hypertrophy (+50% after 3 days of the fiber adaptation) and an accumulation of short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic acid (up to 45% in molar percentage). Arabinoxylans enhanced the cecal absorption of Ca and Mg (from 0.07 to 0.19 micromol/min for Ca and from 0.05 to 0.23 micromol/min for Mg). Mg balance was enhanced by arabinoxylans (+25%). The arabinoxylan diet markedly reduced the cholesterol absorption from 50% of ingested cholesterol in controls up to approximately 15% in rats adapted to the arabinoxylans diet. Arabinoxylans were effective in lowering plasma cholesterol (approximately -20%). There was practically no effect of the diets on cholesterol in d > 1.040 lipoproteins (high density lipoproteins) whereas arabinoxylans were very effective in depressing cholesterol in d < 1.040 lipoproteins (especially in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins). Corn fermentable fiber decreased the accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. In parallel, the arabinoxylan diet counteracted the downregulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA by cholesterol. These data suggest that arabinoxylans may have a great impact on intestinal fermentation, mineral utilization, and cholesterol metabolism.     

Effects of a dietary deficiency in calcium on growth and calcium uptake from the aquatic environment in the goldfish, Carassius auratus

1. Young goldfish, Carassius auratus, were fed a calcium-deficient diet for 8 or 56 days and then their net uptake of calcium from the aquatic environment was examined using 45Ca. 2. They showed normal growth and the normal level of plasma calcium in both experiments. 3. In the short-term experiment, no dietary effect was found in the uptake of environmental calcium. In the long-term experiment, however, the rate of uptake was significantly stimulated by 18%. 4. The results indicate the presence of a compensatory action in calcium uptake between dietary and aquatic sources.     

Mechanism of hypocalcemia induced by intraperitoneal, intragastric, and intravenous administration of ethanol to the rat

Acute hypocalcemic effects of intraperitoneal administration of 3 and 5 g ethanol/kg body weight; intragastric administration of 3, 5, and 7 g ethanol/kg body weight; and intravenous administration of 2.5 a ethanol/kg body weight were investigated in 20 h fasted female Wistar rats. Dose-dependent hypocalcemia was similarly induced by intraperitoneal and intragastric routes of administration. Net calcium efflux from plasma, as indicated by the plasma 45Ca activity, was unaffected by 3 g ethanol/kg body weight but was delayed at higher doses of ethanol. Intragastric, but not intraperitoneal, administration of ethanol increased the gastrointestinal luminal calcium content partly by enhancing calcium secretion. Significantly increased tissue 45Ca content 30 min after ethanol administration was evident in the duodenum (31%), jejunum (27%), and colon (33%) in the intragastric ethanol-treated group and in the duodenum (40%), jejunum (38%), ileum (45%), colon (39%), and liver (25%) in the intraperitoneal ethanol-treated group. Thus, the hypocalcemia induced by both intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of ethanol could be partly accounted for by the suppression of calcium efflux from some soft tissues. In contrast, intravenous administration of ethanol was found to enhance the calcium efflux from plasma without affecting the net 45Ca content in the soft tissues. The mechanism(s) by which ethanol affects calcium transport has yet to be elucidated.     

饲料钙磷含量和钙磷比对生长期大鼠体重增长与骨骼发育的影响

目的研究饲料中不同的钙磷含量和钙磷比对生长期实验大鼠体重及骨骼发育的影响。方法采用完全随机化设计方案,取1月龄（100±10）g清洁级Wistar雄性大鼠70只,随机分成7组,每组10只,饲喂7种不同钙磷含量的饲料。自由采食,饮用去离子水,试验期42 d。各组于实验开始和结束时称重。试验结束后,处死动物并分离一侧胫骨和股骨用于实验指标的检测。结果当保持饲料中钙或者磷中的一种含量不变的情况下,调整另一种的含量即改变钙磷比例时,1.2∶1的正常钙磷比例组生长期实验大鼠增重及骨骼发育要明显好于0.4∶1的低钙磷比例组和4∶1的高钙磷比例组（P〈0.05）,并且当保持饲料中钙磷比例不变时,即使在低钙低磷和高钙高磷进食水平下,正常钙磷比例组大鼠增重及骨骼发育都较好,但低钙磷比例组和高钙磷比例组大鼠增重及骨骼发育则由于饲料中钙磷含量的变化波动较大（P〈0.05）。结论饲料中钙和磷需按比例添加,如果两者绝对含量相差过大就会影响到动物的增重及骨骼发育,本实验证明饲料钙磷比为1.2∶1时生长期实验大鼠增重及骨骼发育较好。     

Effects of clomiphene and tamoxifen in vivo on the bone-resorbing effects of parathyroid hormone and of high oral doses of calcitriol (1,25(OH)2D3) in rats with intact ovarian function consuming low calcium diet

Two experiments were undertaken to study the abilities of clomiphene citrate (20 mg/kg body wt/wk s.c.) and tamoxifen citrate (20 mg/kg body wt/wk s.c.) to slow bone resorption mediated by (a) endogenous parathyroid hormone (PTH) and (b) exogenous calcitriol (1,25(OH)₂D₃) in vivo in rats with intact ovarian function. Groups of rats with ⁴⁵Ca-labelled bones were fed a low-calcium (0.01% Ca) diet to stimulate secretion of PTH. Neither clomiphene nor tamoxifen slowed the mobilization of ⁴⁵Ca from femoral bone or prevented the reduction in bone calcium induced by feeding this diet. Moreover these drugs did not depress the urinary excretion of ⁴⁵Ca or hydroxyproline. These observations indicated that clomiphene and tamoxifen did not inhibit PTH-mediated bone resorption. Administering calcitriol (50 ng/day) orally for 14 days raised plasma calcium, increased urinary ⁴⁵Ca and its specific activity and decreased femur ⁴⁵Ca: all these responses were similar in animal, receiving calcitriol alone and calcitriol with clomiphene or tamoxifen. The femur ⁴⁵Ca values (dpm × 10⁻³) were: (means ± SD, n = 8) placebo, 1901 ± 127; 1,25(OH)₂D₃, 1727 ± 96⁷; clomiphene + 1,25(OH)₂D₃, 1694 ± 93⁷; tamoxifen + 1,25(OH)₂D₃, 1664 ± 61⁷. (⁷ = P < 0.01). Thus neither clomiphene nor tamoxifen prevented calcitriol-mediated bone resorption in vivo in the rat.     

Moderate/subclinical calcium deficiency attenuates trabecular mass,microarchitecture and bone growth in growing rats

Adequate dietary calcium (Ca) intake is essential for bone accretion, peak bone mass (PBM) attainment, bone quality and strength during the mammalian growth period. Severe Ca deficiency during growing age results in secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and poor bone quality and strength. However, the impact of moderate Ca deficiency during rats early growth period on bone health and the reversibility with supplementing calcium later in adult life remains unclear. Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (postnatal 28th day, P28) were initiated either with a moderate calcium-deficient diet (MCD, 0.25% w/w Ca) or a control diet (0.8% w/w Ca, control group) till P70. Thereafter, MCD rats were continued either with MCD diet or supplemented with calcium diet (0.8% w/w Ca, calcium supplemented group, CaS) till P150. Another group (control rats) were fed 0.8% w/w Ca containing diet from P28 till P150.MCD group, as compared to the control group, had significantly reduced serum ionized Ca and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) at P70 while no significant change was observed in serum corrected Ca, inorganic phosphate (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and urinary C-terminal telopeptide of collagen 1 (CTX-1), Ca, and P. Femoral and tibial metaphysis in MCD rats had significantly reduced linear growth, cortical and trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD), trabecular microarchitecture (BV/TV%, trabecular thickness, separation and number, structural model index and connectivity density), cortical thickness, and bone stiffness despite the absence of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Continued MCD at P70–P150 results in persistence of compromised bone strength while calcium supplementation (CaS group) improved all the parameters related to bone strength and microarchitecture. Our results indicate that uncorrected moderate/subclinical calcium deficiency in growing rats can result in poor bone quality and strength despite the absence of SHPT. This finding could have relevance in children with poor calcium intake in childhood and adolescence.     

Regulation of Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid Calcium by Brain Barrier Membranes Following Vitamin D-Related Chronic Hypo- and Hypercalcemia in Rats

Male Fischer-344 rats, 21 days old, were fed diets containing 0 (LOD), 2,200 (CONT), or 440,000 (HID) international units of vitamin D3 per kilogram for 12 weeks. [Ca] was measured in plasma, CSF, brain, and choroid plexus. In addition, 45Ca and 36Cl transfer coefficients (KCa and KCl) for uptake from blood into CSF and brain were determined. Although plasma ionized [Ca]s in LOD and HID rats were 50% and 136%, respectively, of values in CONT animals, CSF and brain [Ca]s ranged from only 85% to 110% of respective CONT values. Choroid plexus [Ca] was increased by 37% after HID diet, but was decreased only 10% after LOD. KCa values at CSF, parietal cortex, and pons-medulla were negatively correlated with plasma ionized [Ca], whereas KCl values at CSF and brain were not different between the diet groups. The findings demonstrate that central nervous system [Ca] is maintained during chronic hypo- or hypercalcemia by saturable transport of Ca at brain barrier membranes. This transport does not seem to involve modulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.     

The effects of adrenalectomy on the alpha-adrenergic regulation of cytosolic free calcium in hepatocytes

We have previously published that bilateral adrenalectomy in the rat reduces the Ca2+-mediated alpha-adrenergic activation of hepatic glycogenolysis, while it increases the cellular calcium content of hepatocytes. In the experiments presented here, the concentration of cytosolic free calcium (Ca2+i) at rest and in response to epinephrine was measured in aequorin-loaded hepatocytes isolated from sham and adrenalectomized male rats. We found that in adrenalectomized rats the resting Ca2+i was elevated, the rise in Ca2+i evoked by epinephrine was reduced, and the rise in 45Ca efflux that follows such stimulation was depressed. Furthermore, the slope of the relationship between Ca2+i and calcium efflux was decreased 60% in adrenalectomized. Adrenalectomy did not change Ca2+ release from intracellular calcium pools in response to IP3 in saponin-permeabilized hepatocytes. The EC50 for inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and the maximal Ca2+ released were similar in both sham and adrenalectomized animals. Finally, the liver calmodulin content determined by radioimmunoassay was not significantly different between sham and adrenalectomized rats. These results suggest that 1) adrenalectomy reduces calcium efflux from the hepatocyte, probably by an effect on the plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase-dependent Ca2+ pump and thus alters cellular calcium homeostasis; 2) adrenalectomy decreases the rise in Ca2+i in response to epinephrine; 3) this decreased rise in Ca2+i is not due to defects in the intracellular Ca2+ storage and mobilization processes; and 4) the effects of adrenalectomy on cellular calcium metabolism and on alpha-adrenergic activation of glycogenolysis are not caused by a reduction in soluble calmodulin.