Placental transport of calcium and phosphorus is not regulated by vitamin D

Abstract

The role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in regulating the maternal-to-fetal transfer of calcium and phosphorus across the placenta was examined by measuring maternal and fetal plasma levels of these elements in vitamin D-replete and -deficient rats. Pregnant rats in their 20th day of gestation and their fetuses were studied. Two diets with different calcium and phosphorus contents were used to produce either hypocalcemia or hypophosphatemia in the vitamin D-deficient rats. Calcium and phosphorus levels in fetal plasma were always higher than maternal values, and in vitamin D deficiency a twofold gradient of calcium and a fivefold gradient of phosphorus concentrations across the placenta were observed. Since protein levels in fetal plasma were approximately fivefold lower than maternal values, protein binding does not account for the higher fetal than maternal concentrations of plasma calcium. These results, together with previous data showing normal calcium content of vitamin D-deficient fetuses, indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and other vitamin D3 metabolites are not involved in the active transport of calcium and phosphorus across the placenta in the rat.