Survey of vitamin D metabolite levels during growth and development in Japanese quail.
Plasma calcium and vitamin D metabolite levels were monitored during growth and development in male and female Japanese quail. In male Japanese quail, plasma calcium levels were constant (range 9.0 to 10.9 mg/dl); the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] levels remained undetectable in all age groups. Plasma calcium levels in the females rose at 6 weeks of age and remained elevated. The female 1,25-(OH)2D levels increased from undetectable levels at 3 to 5 weeks to a peak of 297 pg/ml at 8 weeks and remained elevated at 12 weeks of age in ovulating birds. Twelve-week old female without an egg in their oviduct had plasma 1,25-(OH)2D levels similar to males and immature females. No marked changed occurred in plasma 25-(OH)D levels due to sex or age. Plasma 24, 25-(OH)2D levels stayed relatively constant at about 2 ng/ml for both male and females at all ages studied.
D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003370:Coturnix / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D010060:Ovulation; D011784:Quail / Q000254:growth & development*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols; D014807:Vitamin D; D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3; D002117:Calcitriol; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium