Effect of vitamin D3 administration on the serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels of the freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, maintained in artificial fresh water, calcium-rich fresh water, and calcium-deficient fresh water.

Freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, were injected daily intraperitoneally either with vehicle (0.05 ml of 95% ethanol/100 g body wt) or vitamin D3 (50 I.U./100 g body wt) and maintained in artificial fresh water, calcium-rich fresh water, or calcium-deficient fresh water for 10 days. The specimens were sacrificed on Days 1, 3, 5, and 10 after initiation of the experiment. The blood samples were collected on these intervals and serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels were analyzed. Vitamin D3 induced hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in the freshwater catfish, H. fossilis. These effects of vitamin D3 are not dependent upon the calcium concentration of the different ambient media used in this study.