REDUCED ABSORPTION OF CA-45 FROM ISOLATED DUODENAL SEGMENTS INVIVO IN JUVENILE BUT NOT ADULT X-LINKED HYPOPHOSPHATEMIC MICE

In juvenile X-linked hypophosphatemic (Hyp) mice, whole body calcium balances are significantly lower than in genetically normal mice. This is associated with low duodenal vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein and a failure of skeletal mineralization. To seek more specific evidence of an intestinal defect in these mice, absorption of 45Ca was measured in isolated duodenal segments in vivo in mice from 2-13 weeks of age. The duodenum was isolated by sutures and 45Ca was injected into the lumen in 150 mM NaCl and 2 mM CaCl2 at pH = 7.2. Absorption was measured by the amount of isotope remaining in the lumen and by the plasma isotope level. Hemizygous Hyp male and heterozygous Hyp female mice absorbed significantly less 45Ca at 4 and 7 weeks of age than genetically normal mice while Hyp mice at 2, 10, and 13 weeks of age were not significantly affected. At 4 and 7 weeks of age, the Hyp mice also had significantly reduced plasma radioactivity midway through the collection period as well as at the end of the period. To explore a possible mechanism for this malabsorption, 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D receptors were measured in cytosol prepared from 4-week-old normal and Hyp duodenum. There were nonsignificant differences between the normal and Hyp mice in both binding affinity, Kd, and the number of receptors, nmax. In conclusion, juvenile Hyp mice at 4 and 7 weeks of ages malabsorbed calcium from their duodenum. Hyp mice younger than this period were not affected nor were adult Hyp mice. This delay in the development of calcium absorption was not caused by a delay in the appearance of intestinal receptors for 1,25(OH)2D.