Calcium absorption during development: experimental studies of the rat small intestine

During the period of natural weaning in the rat (beginning during the third week) the mechanisms of calcium absorption from the duodenum change from an efficient nonsaturable process, which is insensitive to vitamin D, to a combination of a less efficient nonsaturable process and a saturable vitamin D-dependent component. The stimulatory effect of vitamin D on active calcium transport requires the development of mucosal receptors for 1,25-(OH)2D3 and increasing circulating levels of 1,25-(OH)2D3. Concurrent increases in the concentration of the cytosolic calcium-binding protein (CaBP) support the suggestion that the CaBP mediates, in part, the effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on active calcium transport. The decline in the efficiency of nonsaturable calcium absorption during the third week coincides with, but is probably not due to, the loss of pinocytotic capacity of the small intestine. The time of appearance of the receptors for 1,25-(OH)2D3 and the decline in nonsaturable calcium absorption are under glucocorticoid control as are several other maturational events in the intestine at this time.