The kidney as an endocrine organ involved in the function of vitamin D

Vitamin D3 must be metabilically altered first in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25 OH-D3) and subsequently in the kidney to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) before it can function. Because 1,25-(OH)2D3 is formed in the kidney and acts in intestine and bone to elevate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations, it can be considered a hormone. The production of 1,25-(OH)2D3 is feedback regulated either directly or indirectly by serum calcium and serum phosphate concentrations. The hypocalcemic regulation is mediated by the parathyroid glands. The hypophosphatemic stimulus, however, does not involve either the parathyroid or thyroid glands. Under conditions whereby the synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2D3 is repressed, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25-(OH)2D3 is formed. This metabolite can be converted further to 1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,24,25-(OH)3D3), which stimulate intestinal calcium transport but not bone calcium mobilization or phosphate transport reactions. A number of vitamin D-resistant bone diseases may be related to defective vitamin D metabolism. For example, bone disease related to choric renal failure likely results from defective formation of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the kidney. Treatment of this disease with intravenously administered 1,25-(OH)2D3 is effective in correcting the bone lesions. 1Alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha-OH-D3), a new synthetic analog of 1,25-(OH)2D3 which is less expensive to produce than 1,25-(OH)2D3, is effective in anephric animals and may have several advantages over 1,25-(OH)2D3 in treating bone diseases.