Disorders of cholecalciferol metabolism in old egg-laying hens.

It has been reported that the rate of cracked or soft-shelled eggs markedly increases in old laying hens. We investigated the effect of age on cholecalciferol metabolism in different age groups of laying hens. The egg production rate in hens more than 500 days old was maintained within a range of about 70% of that in young hens (230-320 days old), whereas the rate of cracked or soft-shelled eggs increased markedly with age. When kidney homogenates from the different age groups were incubated with [3H]-25-hydroxyvitamin D-3, renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3-1 alpha-hydroxylase activity was found to decrease markedly with age. When birds were given intravenously either [3H]-25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 or [3H]-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, the accumulation of [3H]-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in plasma and target tissue also decreased with age. Forced molting performed in old hens restored eggshell quality. The treatment also restored, though partially, the in vivo accumulation of [3H]-l alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in the target tissues. These results suggest that the increased rate of cracked or soft-shelled eggs seen in older birds is associated with disorders of vitamin D-3 metabolism.