Intestinal phosphate absorption: influence of vitamin D and non-vitamin D factors

The transport of inorganic phosphate (P) was measured in the absence of electrochemical gradients across rat jejunum in vitro. Active P absorption was demonstrated in young, vitamin D-deficient (-D) rats, whereas active P secretion was found in normal, non-vitamin D-deficient adult rats, suggesting regulation of intestinal P transport by age-dependent but vitamin D-independent mechanisms. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] stimulated mucosal-to-serosal P flux (Jm----s) without affecting serosal-to-mucosal P flux (Js----m), causing further increases in net P absorption (Jnet) in -D rats and reduction in net P secretion in normal adult rats, confirming a previously described role of this hormone on P absorption. We then examined the effect of increasing extracellular (buffer) P concentration [P] on this 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated active P absorption in jejunum from -D rats. At [P] of 0.024, 0.24, and 2.4 mM, 1,25(OH)2D3 consistently stimulated Jm----s without affecting Js----m, causing an increment in Jnet. At 7.5 mM [P], however, this Jm----s stimulatory effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was no longer observed. Moreover, at this [P] the Js----m exceeded Jm----s in both -D and 1,25(OH)2D3-repleted rats, converting the active P absorption into active P secretion in both treatment groups. These observations suggest the participation of local mechanisms, such as the ambient [P] of the transporting enterocytes, in the regulation of intestinal P absorption. Finally, the influence of dietary P deprivation on P absorption was studied in -D rats, with or without either vitamin D3 or 1,25(OH)2D3 repletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)