Antirachitic activity of 1 alpha-hydroxyergocalciferol and 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in rats.

Weanling vitamin D-deficient rats fed a high calcium, low phosphate diet were injected daily with 1 alpha-hydroxyergocalciferol or 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol at doses of 2.5, 25 or 250 ng. Intestinal calcium and phosphate transport, serum phosphorus level, epiphyseal plate calcification, and percent femur ash increased as a function of the dose. Both compounds were equally effective in eliciting these responses demonstrating their equivalency as antirachitic compounds.