Role of vitamin D glucosiduronate in calcium homeostasis

Evidence has been presented suggesting the presence of vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ glucosiduronate in rat bile. To evaluate the role of vitamin D glucosiduronates in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, the authors synthesized vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosidurinate and tested its biological activity in calcium- and vitamin D-deficient rats. After the intravenous administration of vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate to rats maintained on a low calcium diet, there was an increase in duodenal calcium transport and an increase in serum calcium. Vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate, however, was less than equimolar amounts of vitamin D₃. At doses of less than 0.65-1 nmol per rat, the conjugate exhibited no activity. When vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate was administered to vitamin D-deficient rats, 25-hydroxyvitamin D was detected in the serum; the increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was less than that observed after the administration of an equimolar amount of vutamin D₃. Vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate showed no detectable activity in the induction of calcium binding protein in chick embryonic duodena, a system in which no endogenous steroid β-glucuronidase activity is detectable. These data demonstrate that vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate is biologically active in vivo and that the observed activity is due to hydrolysis of the conjugate to vitamin D₃. As vitamin D₃ 3β-glucosiduronate is excreted in the bile of rats, it is possible that this conjugate is reutilized in vivo after hydrolysis to free vitamin D₃. These results suggest the existence of a mechanism for reutilization of the biliary products of vitamin D₃.