title: The effect of hepatectomy on the synthesis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.
abstract: The metabolism of [3H]vitamin D3 in hepatectomized vitamin D-deficient rats has been studied. Hepatectomy drastically disrupts vitamin D3 metabolism as revealed by prolonged high levels of [3H] vitamin D3 in the plasma compartment even 12 h after dose in contrast to sham-operated controls. Some conversion of [3H] vitamin D3 to [3H]25-hydroxyvitamin D3 was detected in hepatectomized rats, but the amount was small in spite of the high circulating levels of [3H]vitamin D3. Since the liver initially takes up much of an administered dose in normal animals and the conversion of [3H]vitamin D3 to [3H]25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is small in hepatectomized rats in spite of high circulating [3H]-vitamin D3, it is concluded that the liver plays a major role in the metabolism of vitamin D3 to 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols