[Comparative study of the biological activity and toxic effect of 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol and ergocalciferol in...

Single administration of 0.25 microgram of sunthetic Ialpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (IalphaOHD3) into nephrectomized rats, maintained at D-avitaminous diet, improved the active transport of calcium ions against the concentration gradient in small intestine of these animals, whereas ergocalciferol was biologically inactive under the same conditions. Administration of IalphaOHD3 during 5 days at a dose 0.025 microgram normalized calcium content in blood serum of rats with D-avitaminosis, Increased doses of IalphaOHD3, administered into intact animals, caused transient hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, calcinosis of internal tissues (kidney heart, aorta) as well as death of some animals. IalphaOHD3 exceeded 400-fold the hypercalcemic and calcinose effects of ergocalciferol. LD50 for IalphaOHD3 was equal to 100 microgram/kg, if it was administered during 5 days per os. Tissue calcinosis was developed after administration of a daily dose 10 microgram/kg, moderate hypercalcemia was caused by a daily dose 1 microgram/kg or 0.25 microgram per an animal; this amount is only 10-fold higher as compared with the physiologic requirement. Ergocalciferol caused hypercalcemia and metastatic calcification only at a dose 4000 microgram/kg. Clinical use of IalphaOHD3 at doses, exceeding the physiologic requirements, has to be prohibited due to high activity of the preparation and to toxicity of its increased doses.