title: "Activation" of vitamin D by the liver.
abstract: Isolation of the liver from the circulation of rats eliminates almost completely their ability to convert [1,2]-(3)H vitamin D(3) into its biologically active metabolite, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, as well as certain other metabolites. It is concluded that the liver is the major if not the only physiologic site of hydroxylation of vitamin D(3) (cholecalciferol) into 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. The osteodystrophy and the higher requirements for vitamin D observed in hepatic insufficiencies may be due to an inability of the liver to transform vitamin D into its metabolically active form.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002845:Chromatography; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000209:etiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D012279:Rickets / Q000209:etiology; D014316:Tritium; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014316:Tritium; D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol