共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 640 毫秒
1.
Thierry-Palmer M Cephas S Muttardy FF Al-Mahmoud A 《The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology》2008,111(1-2):7-12
The Dahl salt-sensitive rat, a model for salt-induced hypertension, develops hypovitaminosis D during high salt intake, which is caused by loss of protein-bound vitamin D metabolites into urine. We tested the hypothesis that high dietary cholecalciferol (5- and 10-fold standard) would increase plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD(3)) concentration (indicator of vitamin D status) of salt-sensitive rats during high salt intake. Salt-sensitive rats were fed 0.3% salt (low salt, LS), 3% salt (HS), 3% salt and 7.5 microg cholecalciferol/d (HS-D5), or 3% salt and 15 microg cholecalciferol/d (HS-D10) and sacrificed at week 4. Plasma 25-OHD(3) concentrations of the two groups of HS-D rats were similar to that of LS rats and more than twice that of HS rats. Urinary cholecalciferol metabolite content of HS-D rats was more than seven times that of HS rats. Systolic blood pressures of the hypertensive HS and HS-D rats did not significantly differ, whereas LS rats were not hypertensive. We conclude that high dietary cholecalciferol increases plasma 25-OHD(3) concentration, but does not attenuate the hypertension of salt-sensitive rats during high salt intake. Low salt intake may be necessary to both maintain optimal vitamin D status and prevent hypertension in salt-sensitive individuals. 相似文献
2.
3.
Myrtle Thierry-Palmer Stacy Cephas 《The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology》2010,118(3):188-193
Plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) concentration was shown to decrease during bed rest in several studies when baseline plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration was sub-optimal. Dahl salt-sensitive female (S) rats, but not Dahl salt-resistant female (R) rats, demonstrated a 50% decrease in plasma 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) concentration after 28 days of hind limb unloading (HU, disuse model) during low salt intake (0.3%). We tested the vitamin D endocrine system response of female S rats to hind limb unloading during high salt intake (2%, twice that of standard rat chow to mimic salt intake in the USA). Hind limb unloading resulted in lower plasma 25-OHD3 concentrations in S-HU rats than in R-HU rats (P < 0.05) and greater urinary loss of 25-OHD3 by S-HU rats than by S rats (P < 0.05). Plasma 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentration of S-HU rats was half that of S rats, but was unchanged in R-HU rats. The association of low plasma 25-OHD concentration with decrease in plasma 1,25-(OH)2D concentration of hind limb unloaded rats and of bed rest participants (published studies) suggests that low vitamin D status might be a risk factor for decrease in plasma vitamin D hormone concentration during long-term immobilization or bed rest. 相似文献
4.
Yan Huang Haoyong Yu Junxi Lu Kaifeng Guo Lei Zhang Yuqian Bao Haibing Chen Weiping Jia 《PloS one》2012,7(11)
Background
Low vitamin D levels can be associated with albuminuria, and vitamin D analogs are effective anti-proteinuric agents. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in vitamin D levels between those with micro- and those with macroalbuminuria, and to determine whether low dose cholecalciferol increases vitamin D levels and ameliorates albuminuria.Methods
Two studies were performed in which 25-OH vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentrations were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay: 1) a cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 481) and healthy controls (n = 78); and 2) a longitudinal study of T2DM patients with albuminuria treated with conventional doses, 800 IU, of cholecalciferol for 6 months (n = 22), and a control group (n = 24).Results
1) Cross-sectional study: Compared to controls and T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria, serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were significantly lower in patients with macro-albuminuria, but not in those with micro-albuminuria. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were independently correlated with microalbuminuria. 2) Longitudinal study: Cholecalciferol significantly decreased microalbuminuria in the early stages of treatment, in conjunction with an increase in serum 25(OH)D3 levels.Conclusions
Low vitamin D levels are common in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria, particularly in patients with macroalbuminuria, but not in those with microalbuminuria. Conventional doses of cholecalciferol may have antiproteinuric effects on Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. 相似文献5.
《Endocrine practice》2009,15(2):95-103
ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy and safety of commonly prescribed regimens for the treatment of vitamin D insufficiency.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of 306 consecutive patients who were prescribed ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) for correction of vitamin D insufficiency at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center between February 2003 and May 2006. Serum levels of parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), and calcium were compared before and after treatment with ergocalciferol. Patients who did not have a 25-OHD determination (n = 41) were excluded from analysis. Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were defined as a serum 25-OHD level of < 20 ng/mL, 21 to 29 ng/mL, and > 30 ng/mL, respectively.ResultsWe identified 36 discrete prescribing regimens. The 3 most common regimens were ergocalciferol 50,000 IU once weekly for 4 weeks followed by 50,000 IU once monthly for 5 months (n = 48); ergocalciferol 50,000 IU once monthly for 6 months (n = 80); and ergocalciferol 50,000 IU 3 times weekly for 6 weeks (n = 27). Each of these 3 treatments significantly increased serum 25-OHD (P < .01), but vitamin D sufficiency was achieved in only 38%, 42%, and 82% of study subjects, respectively. Regimens with > 600,000 IU of ergocalciferol given for a mean of 60 ± 40 days achieved sufficiency in 64% of cases, without vitamin D toxicity.ConclusionIn this study, regimens that contained at least 600,000 IU of ergocalciferol appeared to be the most effective in achieving vitamin D sufficiency. Guidelines for the treatment of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy adults should be developed. (Endocr Pract. 2009;15:95-103) 相似文献
6.
Anna E. Goodroe Casey Fitz Michael L. Power Ricki J. Colman Saverio Capuano III Toni E. Ziegler 《American journal of primatology》2020,82(6):e23131
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is endogenously produced in the skin of primates when exposed to the appropriate wavelengths of ultraviolet light (UV-B). Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) maintained indoors require dietary provision of vitamin D3 due to lack of sunlight exposure. The minimum dietary vitamin D3 requirement and the maximum amount of vitamin D3 that can be metabolized by marmosets is unknown. Observations of metabolic bone disease and gastrointestinal malabsorption have led to wide variation in dietary vitamin D3 provision amongst research institutions, with resulting variation in circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), the accepted marker for vitamin D sufficiency/deficiency. Multiple studies have reported serum 25(OH)D3 in captive marmosets, but 25(OH)D3 is not the final product of vitamin D3 metabolism. In addition to serum 25(OH)D3, we measured the most physiologically active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), and the less well understood metabolite, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25(OH)2D3) to characterize the marmoset's ability to metabolize dietary vitamin D3. We present vitamin D3 metabolite and related serum chemistry value colony reference ranges in marmosets provided diets with 26,367 (Colony A, N = 113) or 8,888 (Colony B, N = 52) international units (IU) of dietary vitamin D3 per kilogram of dry matter. Colony A marmosets had higher serum 25(OH)D3 (426 ng/ml [SD 200] vs. 215 ng/ml [SD 113]) and 24,25(OH)2D3 (53 ng/ml [SD 35] vs. 7 ng/ml [SD 5]). There was no difference in serum 1,25(OH)2D3 between the colonies. Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 increased and 25(OH)D3 decreased with age, but the effect was weak. Marmosets tightly regulate metabolism of dietary vitamin D3 into the active metabolite 1,25(OH)2D3; excess 25(OH)D3 is metabolized into 24,25(OH)2D3. This ability explains the tolerance of high levels of dietary vitamin D3 by marmosets, however, our data suggest that these high dietary levels are not required. 相似文献
7.
《Endocrine practice》2007,13(2):131-136
ObjectiveTo assess the effect of bariatric surgical treatment of morbid obesity on bone mineral metabolism.MethodsWe analyzed pertinent vitamin D and calcium metabolic variables in 136 patients who had undergone a malabsorptive bariatric operation. Measurements of bone mineral density (BMD), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D], parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase were performed. Statistical analyses assessed correlations among various factors.ResultsThe mean age (± SD) of the study group was 48.34 ± 10.28 years. Their mean weight loss was 114.55 ± 45.66 lb, and the mean duration since the bariatric surgical procedure was 54.02 ± 51.88 months. Seventeen patients (12.5%) had a T-score of -2.5 or less, and 54 patients (39.7%) had a T-score between –1.0 and –2.5. Of 119 patients in whom serum 25-OHD was measured, 40 (34%) had severe hypovitaminosis D (25-OHD < 8 ng/mL), and 50 patients (42%) had low hypovitaminosis D (serum 25-OHD 8 to 20 ng/mL). The magnitude of weight loss correlated negatively with serum 25-OHD, calcium, phosphorus, and calcium × phosphorus product values and positively with serum alkaline phosphatase level. Serum 25-OHD and calcium concentrations correlated positively with the BMD. PTH, serum 1,25-(OH)2D, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations correlated negatively with the BMD, a reflection of the presence of secondary hyperparathyroidism, an accelerated conversion of 25-OHD to 1,25-(OH)2D by the elevated PTH levels, and increased osteoblastic activity. The mean daily vitamin D supplementation was 6,472 ± 9,736 IU.ConclusionHypovitaminosis D and subsequent bone loss are common in patients who have undergone a bariatric surgical procedure for morbid obesity. These patients require rigorous vitamin D supplementation. (Endocr Pract. 2007;13:131-136) 相似文献
8.
Quantitation of vitamin D and its metabolites and their plasma concentrations in five species of animals 总被引:5,自引:0,他引:5
Chromatographic methods suitable for the resolution of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23 lactone, and 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D2 are described. These four metabolites comigrated in high-pressure liquid chromatography on silicic acid columns developed in 11:89 isopropanol:hexane. Adequate resolution was achieved by subjecting the four-metabolite complex to high-pressure liquid chromatography column developed in 2:98 isopropanol:methylene chloride. This additional chromatographic step, coupled with modifications of assay procedures previously described, allowed for the estimation of plasma concentrations of vitamin D2, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 25,26 dihydroxyvitamin D2, 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23 lactone, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 plus 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3). The samples automatically were introduced onto the high-pressure liquid chromatography columns with a Waters 710A “intelligent” processor. The metabolites were automatically collected with the aid of a programmable timer that advanced a fraction collector at predetermined intervals. The assays were used to determine the plasma vitamin D and vitamin D metabolite concentrations in five species of adult farm animals. 相似文献
9.
《Endocrine practice》2015,21(10):1125-1133
Objective: To ascertain the frequency of correction of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) with single or multiple doses of oral (PO) and intramuscular (IM) administration of 2 high-dose preparations of vitamin D3 (VD3).Methods: This was a prospective intervention study conducted in an ambulatory care setting. One hundred participants with VDD (25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-OHD] <20 ng/mL) were randomized to receive a dose of 600,000 or 200,000 IU of VD3 via a PO or IM route. The main outcome measure was serum 25-OHD levels at 2, 4, and 6 months after the intervention.The same dose was repeated in participants if 25-OHD remained <30 ng/mL at 2 and 4 months.Results: At 2 months, VDD was corrected in 93.8% of participants in Group 1 (600,000 IU IM); 83.3% in Group 2 (600,000 IU PO), 87.5% in Group 3 (200,000 IU IM), and 70.6% in Group 4 (200,000 IU PO). The mean changes from baseline in vitamin D levels at 2 months were 29.6 ± 13.7, 19.8 ± 12.3, 18.3 ± 10.6, and 13.7 ± 7.8 ng/mL in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The mean levels remained significantly higher from baseline in all groups at all time points during the 6 months of observation. The mean 25-OHD level achieved in Group 1 was significantly higher than all other groups at 6 months.Conclusion: Two months after the intervention, VDD was corrected in more than 70% of participants with a single dose of either 600,000 or 200,000 IU given PO or IM.Abbreviations: ALT = alanine transaminase IM = intramuscular iPTH = intact parathyroid hormone IQR = interquartile range 25-OHD = 25 hydroxyvitamin D PO = oral VD3 = vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) VDD = vitamin D deficiency VDI = vitamin D insufficiency 相似文献
10.
Increase in Bone Mass After Correction of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Bisphosphonate-Treated Patients
《Endocrine practice》2008,14(3):293-297
ObjectiveTo assess the relative contribution of vitamin D insufficiency to loss of bone mineral density (BMD) in patients taking bisphosphonates.MethodsPatients were eligible for inclusion if they had osteoporosis or osteopenia and demonstrated a decline in BMD during the preceding year while taking stable doses of alendronate or risedronate, plus supplemental calcium and vitamin D. Patients with previously known secondary causes of osteoporosis were excluded from the study. Eligible patients underwent prospective measurement of bilateral hip and lumbar spine BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin), and urinary calcium:creatinine ratio.ResultsAnnual BMD was assessed in 175 previously bisphosphonate-responsive patients with low BMD. Of the 175 patients, 136 (78%) had either a significant interval increase or no change in BMD, whereas 39 (22%) had a significant decrease. Of the 39 patients who lost BMD, 20 (51%) had vitamin D insufficiency (25-OHD < 30 ng/mL). After a single course of orally administered vitamin D2 (500,000 IU during a 5-week period), the 25-OHD level returned to normal in 17 of the 20 vitamin D-insufficient patients and was associated with significant (P < .02) 3.0% and 2.7% increases in BMD at the lumbar spine and the femoral neck, respectively. Failure to normalize the serum 25-OHD level was associated with further loss of BMD.ConclusionVitamin D insufficiency was the most frequently identified cause of bone loss in patients with declining BMD during bisphosphonate therapy. Correction of vitamin D insufficiency in these patients led to a significant rebound in BMD. (Endocr Pract. 2008; 14:293-297) 相似文献
11.
C.J. Laing D.R. Fraser 《Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology》1999,123(4):389
The apparent plasma concentration of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in an iguanian lizard, Pogona barbata, and the affinity of this protein for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25(OH)D2), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)D3) was found to resemble more closely that of the domestic hen than that of the human. The characteristics of Pogona DBP, the pattern of vitamin D metabolites derived from injected radioactive vitamin D3 and the plasma concentrations of endogenous 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in a range of iguanian lizards have been examined. The findings suggest that 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the major metabolite of vitamin D, and that it may represent the storage form of vitamin D in these species in the same way as in mammals. High concentrations of vitamin D within iguanian embryos and egg yolks suggest a role for this compound in embryogenesis in these species, and perhaps indicates that there is a mechanism for vitamin D delivery to eggs comparable to that found in the domestic chicken. 相似文献
12.
In 54 epileptic outpatients treated for at least one year with anticonvulsants the bone mineral content (B.M.C.), an estimate of total body calcium, and serum calcium were measured before and during treatment with three doses of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3; 200, 100, and 50 mu-g daily) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3; 40, 20, and 10 mu-g daily) for 12 weeks. The results, when compared with the effects of calciferol (vitamin D2; 200, 100, and 50 mu-g daily) in 40 epileptic outpatients, showed different actions in anticonvulsant osteomalacia of vitamin D2 on the one hand and vitamin D3 and 25-OHD3 on the other. In the patients who received vitamin D2 an increase in B.M.C. was found whereas serum calcium was unchanged. The patients who received vitamin D3 or 25-OHD3 showed an increase in serum calcium but unchanged values of B.M.C. The results suggest that liver enzyme induction cannot alone explain anticonvulsant osteomalacia. 相似文献
13.
14.
25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is not a major intermediate in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone formation 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Structural similarities between 25S,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone and their concomitant multifold increase in the plasma of animals treated with pharmacological doses of vitamin D3 suggest a precursor-product relationship. However, a single dose of 25S,26-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 given to rats treated chronically with pharmacological amounts of vitamin D3 did not result in detectable plasma 25-[3H]hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone. Multiple doses of synthetic 25S,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3 given to vitamin D3-deficient rats treated chronically with pharmacological amounts of vitamin D2 also did not result in detectable plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone. Furthermore, homogenates prepared from vitamin d-deficient chickens, dosed with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, converted 25-[3H]hydroxyvitamin D3 to 25-[3H]hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone. But these same homogenates did not convert 25S,26-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 to 25-[3H]hydroxyvitamin D3-26,23-lactone. These data indicate that 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is not an intermediate in 25-hydroxyvitamin D326, 23-lactone formation. 相似文献
15.
Zinc is a trace element important to bone mineralization as well as, in general, nutrition. It is known that cholecalciferol
(vitamin D3) affects bone metabolism. In this study toxic doses of vitamin D3 were injected subcutaneously (25 μg/d) to rats for 5 wk. It caused a significant increase in serum zinc levels (p<0.02). On the other hand, no significant increase was detected in the other groups. Excessive amounts of vitamin D3 caused bone breakdown and increased the levels of zinc in blood. 相似文献
16.
Vitamin D deficiency diminishes the severity and delays onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Multiple sclerosis incidence is clearly inversely related to sun exposure. This observation led to the idea that vitamin D might be responsible for this relationship. Providing super-physiologic doses of the hormonal form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, suppresses an animal model of multiple sclerosis, i.e. experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) but causes unwanted hypercalcemia. Further, dietary calcium is needed for this activity of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. B10PL mice were maintained on a vitamin D-deficient diet for two generations to produce frank vitamin D deficiency. These animals showed delayed onset and reduced severity of EAE compared to control animals on the same diet and given vitamin D3 or provided a vitamin D-containing chow diet. Thus, vitamin D deficiency interferes with the development of this autoimmune disease rather than increasing susceptibility. 相似文献
17.
Kinetics of liver microsomal cholecalciferol 25-hydroxylase in vitamin D-depleted and -repleated rats.
下载免费PDF全文
![点击此处可从《The Biochemical journal》网站下载免费的PDF全文](/ch/ext_images/free.gif)
Kinetics of vitamin D-depleted and -repleted rat liver microsomal cholecalciferol 25-hydroxylase were studied. Anaerobiosis, CO, omission of a NADPH-generating system and addition of detergents all decreased the activities, showing that the hydroxylase behaves like a cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme. An apparent Km of 0.18 micrometer and Vmax. of 32pmol/min per g of tissue were found for vitamin D-deficient animals. Although both apparent Km and Vmax. were significantly altered in vitamin D-repleted animals no inhibition of the enzyme was elicited. These latter results show that at normal vitamin D intake, rat liver cholecalciferol 25-hydroxylase is not feedback-inhibited. 相似文献
18.
W Rambeck W Oesterhelt M Vecchi H Zucker 《Biochemical and biophysical research communications》1979,87(3):743-749
The grass Trisetum flavescens causes severe calcification of soft tissues upon ingestion by various species, which has been ascribed by others to a 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3-like activity.By a special purification procedure involving high pressure liquid chromatography and continuous biological testing the active principle was purified. By means of it was identified as cholecalciferol, being present in a concentration of about 0.1 ppm in the lyophylized plant dry matter. 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 or other metabolites of vitamin D3 were not present. Since such low concentrations could hardly explain the calcinosis observed, a more active “bound form” of vitamin D3 may be present in Trisetum flavescens. 相似文献
19.
Wang Z Senn T Kalhorn T Zheng XE Zheng S Davis CL Hebert MF Lin YS Thummel KE 《Analytical biochemistry》2011,418(1):126-133
Simultaneous and accurate measurement of circulating vitamin D metabolites is critical to studies of the metabolic regulation of vitamin D and its impact on health and disease. To that end, we have developed a specific liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method that permits the quantification of major circulating vitamin D3 metabolites in human plasma. Plasma samples were subjected to a protein precipitation, liquid–liquid extraction, and Diels–Alder derivatization procedure prior to LC–MS/MS analysis. Importantly, in all human plasma samples tested, we identified a significant dihydroxyvitamin D3 peak that could potentially interfere with the determination of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] concentrations. This interfering metabolite has been identified as 4β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [4β,25(OH)2D3] and was found at concentrations comparable to 1α,25(OH)2D3. Quantification of 1α,25(OH)2D3 in plasma required complete chromatographic separation of 1α,25(OH)2D3 from 4β,25(OH)2D3. An assay incorporating this feature was used to simultaneously determine the plasma concentrations of 25OHD3, 24R,25(OH)2D3, 1α,25(OH)2D3, and 4β,25(OH)2D3 in healthy individuals. The LC–MS/MS method developed and described here could result in considerable improvement in quantifying 1α,25(OH)2D3 as well as monitoring the newly identified circulating metabolite, 4β,25(OH)2D3. 相似文献
20.
H. Göring 《Biochemistry. Biokhimii?a》2018,83(11):1350-1357
The review discusses the data on vitamin D accumulation in animals, plants, and other organisms. 7-Dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) and ergosterol are considered to be the only true precursors of vitamin D, although even vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is not fully comparable to vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in regard to their functions. These precursors are converted by UV radiation into the corresponding D vitamins. There are a few published reports that this reaction can also occur in the dark or under blue light, which is unexpected and requires explanation. Another unexpected result is conversion of pro-vitamins D (7-DHC and ergosterol) into vitamin D3 and D2 via pre-vitamin D at low temperatures (<16°C) in the lichen Cladonia rangiferina. An extensive survey of literature data leads to the conclusion that vitamin D is synthesized from (1) 7-DHC via lanosterol (D3) in land animals; (2) 7-DHC via cycloartenol (D3) in plants; (3) ergosterol via lanosterol (D2) in fungi; and (4) 7-DHC or ergosterol (D3 or D2) in algae. Vitamin D primarily accumulates in organisms, in which it acts as a pro-hormone, e.g., land animals. It can also be found as a degradation product in many other species, in which spontaneous conversion of some membrane sterols upon UV irradiation leads to the formation of vitamins D3 or D2, even if they are not necessarily needed by the organism. Such products accumulate due to the absence of metabolizing enzymes, e.g., in algae, fungi, or lichens. Other organisms (e.g., zooplankton and fish) receive vitamins D with food; in this case, vitamins D do not seem to carry out biological functions; they are not metabolized but stored in cells. A few exceptions were found: the rainbow trout and at least four plant species that accumulate active hormone calcitriol (but not vitamin D) in relatively high amounts. As a result, these plants are very toxic for grazing animals (cause enzootic calcinosis). In connection with the proposal of some scientists to produce large quantities of vitamin D with the help of plants, the accumulation of calcitriol in some plants is discussed. 相似文献