Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Hospital for Small Animals, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
Vet Rec. 2013 Oct 12;173(14):345. doi: 10.1136/vr.101555. Epub 2013 Sep 25.
Despite the popularity of keeping snakes in captivity, there has been limited investigation into the effects of UV radiation on vitamin D levels in snakes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of UV-b radiation on plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and ionised calcium concentrations in ball pythons (Python regius). Blood samples were taken from 14 ball pythons, which had never been exposed to UV-b light, to obtain baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and ionised calcium concentrations. Blood samples were then taken again from the same snakes 70 days later after one group (Group 1, n=6 females) were exposed to UV-b radiation daily, and the other group (Group 2, n=5 males and 3 females) were exposed to no UV-b radiation. Mean±sd 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels on day 0 in Group 1 were 197±35 nmol/l, and on day 70 were 203.5±13.8 nmol/l. Mean±sd 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in Group 2 on day 0 were 77.7±41.5 nmol/l, and on day 70 were 83.0±41.9 nmol/l. Mean±sd ionised calcium levels at day 0 were 1.84±0.05 mmol/l for Group 1, and on day 70 were 1.78±0.07 mmol/l. Mean±sd ionised calcium levels at day 0 were 1.79±0.07 mmol/l for Group 2, and on day 70 were 1.81±0.05 mmol/l. No association was demonstrated between exposure to UV-b radiation and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and ionised calcium concentrations. These results may provide baseline parameters for future studies in this and other snake species to determine ability to utilise UV-b light for vitamin D production.
尽管将蛇圈养起来的做法很流行，但对 UV 辐射对蛇体内维生素 D 水平的影响的研究却很有限。本研究旨在探讨 UV-B 辐射对球蟒（Python regius）血浆 25-羟维生素 D3 水平和离子钙浓度的影响。从从未接触过 UV-B 光的 14 条球蟒身上采集血样，以获得基线 25-羟维生素 D3 水平和离子钙浓度。然后，将其中一组（第 1 组，n=6 只雌性）每天暴露于 UV-B 辐射，另一组（第 2 组，n=5 只雄性和 3 只雌性）不暴露于 UV-B 辐射，再次从同一条蛇身上采集血样。第 1 组在第 0 天的平均±标准差 25-羟维生素 D3 水平为 197±35 nmol/L，在第 70 天为 203.5±13.8 nmol/L。第 2 组在第 0 天的平均±标准差 25-羟维生素 D3 水平为 77.7±41.5 nmol/L，在第 70 天为 83.0±41.9 nmol/L。第 1 组在第 0 天的平均±标准差离子钙水平为 1.84±0.05 mmol/L，在第 70 天为 1.78±0.07 mmol/L。第 2 组在第 0 天的平均±标准差离子钙水平为 1.79±0.07 mmol/L，在第 70 天为 1.81±0.05 mmol/L。未发现暴露于 UV-B 辐射与血浆 25-羟维生素 D3 和离子钙浓度之间存在关联。这些结果可为未来在该蛇种及其他蛇种中进行的研究提供基线参数，以确定其利用 UV-B 光产生维生素 D 的能力。
