title: Osteochondrosis in fetuses of ewes overfed calcium.
abstract: Ewes were fed ad libitum (up to maximum of 2.5 kg/day) a complete feed containing either 1.52% calcium (High Ca) or 0.59% calcium (Normal Ca) on a dry matter basis from day 50 of pregnancy, and the fetuses were removed at 133-135 days. Thyroid C cells, identified by indirect immunofluorescence, were more numerous (P less than 0.001) and plasma levels of 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [24,25(OH)2D] were higher (P less than 0.09) in fetuses of High Ca ewes. These fetuses also had retarded cartilage differentiation in the proximal humeral epiphysis and metaphysis as well as transverse trabeculation in the epiphysis. These entities are two of the hallmarks of osteochondrosis. It was shown that feeding high dietary calcium to pregnant ewes caused osteochondrosis in their fetuses. Hypercalcitoninism and/or an adverse effect of supraphysiological levels of 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol may have been contributory to the skeletal abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Corbellini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krook
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nathanielsz
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Kallfelz
mesh_terms: D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D006811:Humerus / Q000473:pathology; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000097:blood; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D005755:Gastrins; D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3; D002117:Calcitriol; D006909:Hydroxyproline