Vitamin D: two dihydroxylated metabolites are required for normal chicken egg hatchability.
When hens are raised to sexual maturity from hatching with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] as their sole source of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), fertile eggs appear to develop normally but fail to hatch. When hens receive a combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3], hatchability equivalent to that with hens given vitamin D3 is obtained. These results suggest a biological role for 24,25(OH)2D3 not previously recognized.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects
D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols