1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 target cells in immature pancreatic islets

Target cells of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were identified by autoradiography in islets from rats of different ages. Nuclei of pancreatic islet cells selectively concentrated 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 but not 25-[3H]hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3. Developmental studies of pancreatic islets indicated that target cells, as revealed by significant nuclear concentration of 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3, are present in islet cells of fetal rats. The percentage of islet cells that concentrated 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 increased from 10 to 15% in the fetus to 60% at 1 day of age. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that insulin-containing cells but not glucagon or somatostatin cells concentrated 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3. Peak uptake of 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 was calculated to be 400 pmol/mg DNA, with no significant difference in nuclear accumulation between islet cells from neonatal and adult rats or between islets in vivo and isolated islets in vitro. The results of these studies indicate that 1,25-[3H]dihydroxyvitamin D3 target cells are present in islets before pancreatic beta-cells are morphologically or functionally mature; islet beta-cells concentrate 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, but not 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. We conclude that only the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 metabolite of vitamin D is accumulated by nuclei of developing and mature beta-cells and suggest that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 plays a role in the maturation of islet beta-cells.