The action of various vitamin D3 metabolites on calcium and phosphorus metabolism in chick embryo calvariae.

Chick embryos from vitamin D-deficient hens given physiological doses of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or both become severely hypocalcemic, hyperphosphatemic and fail to hatch as compared to those derived from hens given 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-difluoro-25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Calvariae from the former contain less mineral and on incubation in vitro produce significantly lower calcium and higher phosphate concentration in the medium than do the calvariae derived from the embryos of hens supported on 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,24-difluoro-25-hydroxyvitamin D3.