EFFECTS OF HYDROXYLATED DERIVATIVES OF VITAMIN-D3 AND OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF SOLANUM-MALACOXYLON ON THE ABSORPTION OF CALCIUM, PHOSPHATE, SODIUM, POTASSIUM AND WATER FROM THE JEJUNUM OF PIGS

The effects of hydroxylated derivatives of vitamin D3 and aqueous extracts of Solanum malacoxylan on the intestinal absorption of calcium, phosphate, sodium, potassium and water have been studied in unstressed vitamin D-replete pigs each of which was surgically prepared beforehand with a Thiry-Vella loop of jejunum. The addition, for six 1 hr periods of perfusion, of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) or 1α-hydroxycholecalciferol at similar concentrations (3.6-3.75 pmol/ml) to the solution used to perfuse the intestinal loop caused a rapid increase in the absorption of calcium but increased the absorption of phosphate only after a delay of at least 12 hr. The absorption of both calcium and phosphate reached a maximum on the day following the addition of the vitamin D derivative to the perfusate. The addition of 25-hydroxcholecalciferol (25-(OH)D3) at a concentration of 3.75 pmol/ml was without effect on absorption except for a small increase in the absorption of phosphate on the following day. However, at higher concentrations (>250pmol 25-(OH)D3/ml) the absorptions of calcium and phosphate were both increased rapidly. 24,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol was without effect on absorption at the concentration tested (3.6 pmol/ml). Aqueous extracts (1%) of the leaf of S. malacoxylon showed similar effects on absorption to those of 1,25-(OH)2D3. However, there was one point of difference; the absorption of phosphate was stimulated with a similar time course to that of calcium in contrast to its delayed response to 1,25-(OH)2D3. The absorption rates of water, sodium and potassium were not consistently affected by 1,25-(OH)2D3 or S. malacoxylon. However, the major effects of these derivatives were usually seen on the day following the day of addition to the perfusate. In contrast, 25-(OH)D3 at high concentrations had a marked effect on the absorption of water, sodium and potassium on the day of addition.