Rat intestinal and renal calcium-binding proteins

The effect of vitamin D activity on the major renal Ca-binding protein has been compared with that on the intestinal Ca-binding protein. Using a method based on Ca-binding capacity, these proteins were measured in vitamin D deficient rats after vitamin D treatment for varying periods up to 5 days. Since P deficiency has been shown to stimulate synthesis of the active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, a similar experiment was done on rats fed a P-deficient diet for periods up to 21 days. The renal Ca-binding protein was unchanged by vitamin D treatment to vitamin D deficient rats and was only slightly increased (50%) by phosphate deficiency. By comparison, the intestinal protein was increased twofold by vitamin D treatment and fivefold by phosphate deficiency. Results indicate that vitamin D activity has no direct effect on the major renal Ca-binding protein.