Regulation of plasma 1,25-(OH)2-D3 by phosphate: evidence against a role for total or acid-soluble renal phosphate content.

In order to evaluate a possible role for tissue phosphate or phosphorylated compounds in mediating the increase in plasma 1,25-(OH)2-D3 levels during dietary phosphate deprivation, measurements of total and acid-soluble renal cortical phosphate content have been made in both intact and hypophysectomized (hypox) rats eating a normal diet and also after four days of dietary phosphate deprivation. Similar measurements were also made in phosphate-deprived hypophysectomized rats replaced with growth hormone (GH). Total and acid-soluble renal cortical phosphate content averaged 81 +/- 8 mumol/g and 4.1 +/- 0.6 mumol/g, respectively, in intact rats eating the normal diet and were not significantly altered after phosphate deprivation despite a fall in plasma phosphate of about 40% and a fourfold increase in plasma 1,25-(OH)2-D3 levels. Total and acid-soluble renal cortical phosphate content levels were higher in hypox rats, averaging 92 +/- 8 mumol/g and 4.9 +/- 0.7 mumol/g, respectively, but also did not change after phosphate deprivation. Replacement of phosphate-deprived hypox rats with GH resulted in a further fall in plasma phosphate and a significant increase in plasma 1,25-(OH)2-D3 levels, but there was no change in either total or acid-soluble renal cortical phosphate content. The distribution of organophosphorus compounds in the acid-soluble phosphate fraction in these experiments was also evaluated using 31P NMR spectrometry. Although there appeared to be an increase in the total concentration of organophosphorus compounds after phosphate deprivation, this effect was not altered by hypophysectomy or by replacement of phosphate-deprived hypox rats with GH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)