Control of renal vitamin D hydroxylases in birds by sex hormones.

Kidney homogenates from adult male Japanese quail or chickens demonstrate hydroxylase activity predominantly for the 24 rather than the 1 position of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-hydroxycholecalciferol). A single injection of 5 mg of estradiol-17beta into a male bird completely suppresses the 24-hydroxylase and greatly increases the 1-hydroxylase activity. Immature males do not respond well to estrogen alone, but they do respond well to estradiol plus testosterone. Testosterone alone has little or no effect on the hydroxylases of either species. Castrated male chickens show an estradiol response only when testosterone is also given. Optimal 24 hr responses to 5 mg of estradiol per kg in the castrate male were obtained with about 12 mg of testosterone per kg. These optimal amounts of estradiol and testosterone increased the activity of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase approximately 225-fold (this enzyme is also known as 25-hydroxycholecalciferol 1-monooxygenase; 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, NADPH: oxygen oxidoreductase (hydroxylating), EC 1.14.13.13). These results demonstrate a strong regulation by the sex hormones of the renal vitamin D hydroxylases in birds.