Intestinal calcium-binding protein and calcium absorption in cortisol-treated chicks: effects of vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Vitamin D3 in rachitic chicks stimulates calcium absorption and induces the synthesis of two pools of intestinal calcium-binding protein (CaBP), one soluble and the other membrane bound. Cortisol acetate caused a decrease in calcium absorption which was accompanied by a decrease in soluble CaBP. Cortisol was similarly effective in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-dosed chicks, suggesting that the glucocorticoid effect was not entirely due to the defective synthesis of this metabolite. Ca absorption was directly correlated with soluble CaBP and alkaline phosphatase and inversely related to the ratio of bound to soluble CaBP. It was further observed that the slope of the Ca absorption vs. soluble CaBP regression line was greater in chicks given 1,25-dihyroxyvitamin D3 compared to those given vitamin D3, and this is interpreted to mean that another factor or condition, in addition to assayed concentrations of soluble CaBP, determines the degree of calcium absorption.