Effects of ovariectomy, vitamin D and boron on low-vitamin D colony, retired female breeder rats

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1996

Abstract

Thirty ovariectomized (OVX) and twenty sham-operated low-vitamin D retired female breeder Holtzman rats (8-9 mo.) were assigned to five treatments by randomized block design (initial wt). Pre-planned, singledegree-of-freedom contrasts were used to compare (p< .05) effects of surgery (OVX or sham), vitamin D (adequate or deficient), and boron (supplemental or basal [ < .2 mg/kg - calculated]) on vitamin D status, bone measurements, food intake, and rate of weight gain during a 14 week study. Sham rats had much larger uterine wt than OVX rats, while OVX rats initially had a greater food intake and gained wt more rapidly. Rats fed vitamin D deficient diets had much lower plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, lower 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, and higher parathyroid hormone (not significant for sham). Sham rats had greater femur wt, density, ash wt, % ash, and total Ca, but OVX rats had a greater concentration of Ca (mg/g) in femurs. With OVX rats fed a vitamin D deficient diet, those given supplemental dietary boron (no sham rats fed supplemental boron) bad a greater femur Ca concentration (mg/g) than those fed a basal level of boron. A vitamin D deficient diet had little effect on variables other than the basic indicators of vitamin D status. Low-vitamin D colony rats were used to produce a more severe vitamin D deficiency, but the colony may have adapted to years of very low dietary vitamin D. The older age status of the rats may have also contributed to the results.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

FASEB Journal

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS