EB 1089, a calcitriol analogue, decreases fetal calcium content when injected into pregnant rats

EB 1089 is a calcitriol analogue with low calcaemic activity, which inhibits parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) secretion in rats implanted with the Leydig cell tumour H-500. We have studied its effect on maternal and fetal plasma PTHrP concentrations and on fetal calcium and phosphorus contents in rats. Three groups of six pregnant rats were injected I.P. daily with EB 1089 (0.10, 0.25 and 0.50 microgram kg-1 in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, from day 12 to day 20 of gestation). The control group received an equal volume of solvent alone. On day 21 of gestation the animals were anaesthetized with chloral hydrate and blood samples were taken. Fetuses were collected, weighed and ashed for Ca and P measurements. PTHrP concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in maternal and fetal plasma. Calcium content (mg (g fetal wt)-1; mean +/- S.E.M.) in control fetuses was not different from that measured in fetuses from dams given the lowest dose of EB 1089, but was higher than that in fetuses from rats injected with EB 1089 at 0.25 microgram kg-1 (1.18 +/- 0.20; P < 0.05) or 0.50 microgram kg-1 (1.08 +/- 0.29; P < 0.05). There was no difference in fetal P content between any of the groups of rats. The PTHrP concentration (pg equivalents human PTHrP(1-34) fragment ml-1) in maternal plasma from control rats (1.70 +/- 0.50) was not different from that in maternal plasma of rats given the lowest dose of EB 1089 (1.44 +/- 0.63).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)