Apparent [3H]1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 uptake by canine and rodent brain.

The brain uptake of [3H]1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ([3H]1,25(OH)2D3) was studied during steady-state conditions using the multiple-indicator dilution technique in dogs. The fractional [3H]1,25(OH)2D3 uptake was evaluated at 0.8 +/- 0.15% during a single passage through the dog brain. Evaluation of the [3H]1,25(OH)2D3 uptake by the vitamin D-replete and vitamin D-depleted rat brain indicated that 30 min after its injection, the fractional uptake was not influenced by the vitamin D status of the animals or by the amount of [3H]-1,25(OH)2D3 injected. In the rodent the fractional [3H]-1,25(OH)2D3 brain accumulation was between 0.16 and 0.20%, whereas the brain-to-serum ratio varied between 5 and 6%. Protein-binding studies of serum [3H]1,25(OH)2D3 indicated that, at 37 degrees C, 94.8 +/- 0.4% of the hormone was protein bound 30 min after its intravenous injection. These observations suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, its limited brain uptake in relation to its serum concentration suggests that the hormone does not penetrate freely into the central nervous system and that its brain uptake may be related to the free circulating 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration perfusing the blood-brain barrier.