title: The effect of dietary calcium content and oral vitamin D3 supplementation on mineral homeostasis in a subterranean mole-rat Cryptomys damarensis.
abstract: The Damara mole-rat, Cryptomys damarensis, has no access to obvious dietary or endogenous sources of vitamin D. We tested the hypotheses that mineral metabolism in these animals is independent of vitamin D status but rather is affected by dietary calcium (Ca) content. Furthermore, we questioned whether bone and teeth assist in plasma mineral homeostasis. Mole-rats increased Ca intake when dietary Ca content increased; however, mode of gastrointestinal uptake, vitamin D metabolite and plasma Ca concentrations were not altered. Similarly, oral vitamin D supplementation did not affect gastrointestinal Ca absorption or alter plasma Ca concentration, although significant increases in plasma concentrations of vitamin D were evident. Bone and teeth mineral (Ca and Pi) content were augmented with vitamin D supplementation. Mineral homeostasis was primarily maintained by manipulating mineral deposition in teeth, for mineral content in teeth increased significantly when dietary Ca content changed from 1.3 g/kg to 2.6 g/kg and higher. Mineral homeostasis in these subterranean rodents does not appear to be regulated at the level of the intestine, but rather by manipulating bone and teeth mineral reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pitcher
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pettifor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buffenstein
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012377:Rodentia; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014070:Tooth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D010758:Phosphorus