title: Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in normal Biozzi and C57BL/6 mice and during the course of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR EAE).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine possible variations in the levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)D] in sera from normal Biozzi and C57BL/6 mice and during the course of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR EAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of 25-(OH)D were measured in normal male and female Biozzi and C57BL/6 mice, at 3-4 weeks old and 8-10 weeks old, with a minimum of six animals/group. Levels of the vitamin were also determined in CR EAE-inoculated mice, and controls, during the course of the disease using a minimum of six animals/treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac blood was collected from the groups of normal, control and CR EAE-sensitised mice and sera prepared, by centrifugation of clotted samples, and assayed for 25-(OH)D levels by chemiluminescence assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal male and female Biozzi and C57BL/6 mice had significantly higher levels of 25-(OH)D at 8-10 weeks old compared to concentrations at 3-4 weeks of age (P < 0.005). Also, levels of the vitamin were significantly raised in C57BL/6 male and female mice compared to values in samples from corresponding Biozzi mice. In addition, the amounts of 25-(OH)D in sera from female Biozzi and C57BL/6 mice were significantly increased compared to strain and aged-matched male mice. The CR EAE mice with acute stage disease had significantly higher 25-(OH)D levels compared to controls (P < 0.005). Vitamin concentrations fell to within controls values with the progression of CR EAE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary studies have revealed marked differences between the amounts of 25-(OH)D in sera from Biozzi and C57BL/6 mice together with clear gender bias. The investigations also show significant, but selective changes, in levels of the vitamin during the course of CR EAE that are not always associated with the neurological disease state.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E12 AT, UK. admin@solupharm.co.uk
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giovannoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D038602:Mice, Biozzi; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012008:Recurrence; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D