Biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3 from bone, liver, and blood serum.

Radioactive metabolites present in bone, blood, liver, and feces of rats given (3)H vitamin D(3) have been isolated. Of these the aqueous soluble metabolite(s) from tissue and all those isolated from feces did not cure rickets in rats, while all the others were at least partially active in this regard. One of the metabolites proved to be as active as the parent vitamin in curing rickets and was found in large amounts in liver, blood, and bone. As much as 50-80% of the radioactivity in bone was found in this metabolite after a 500 IU oral dose of (3)H vitamin D(3). With 10 IU doses of 1,2-(3)H vitamin D(3), most of the radioactivity of the organs examined was found in this metabolite fraction. This metabolite appears to be more polar than vitamin D and is not an esterified form of the vitamin nor a complex of the vitamin with tissue lipids. Its possible role as the metabolically active form of the vitamin is discussed.