Effect of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) on plasma calcium and intestinal 45calcium absorption in goldfish, Carassius auratus L.

Abstract

Goldfish that were fed as well as not fed for 2 weeks had similar plasma total calcium levels, and vitamin D₃ injections during the last 6 days had no significant effect on this parameter. When fish were fed for 1 day after 13 days of food deprivation, plasma calcium increased significantly and this increase was augmented by vitamin D₃ injections. This latter group also showed a chlorpromazine-sensitive increase in ⁴⁵calcium absorption from perfused everted gut sacs when compared with the controls. It was concluded that vitamin D₃ stimulates intestinal calcium absorption in the goldfish.