Isolation and chemical characterization of two new vitamin D metabolites produced by the intestine. 1,25-Dihydroxy-23-oxo-vitamin D3 and 1,25,26-trihydroxy-23-oxo-vitamin D3.

Two new vitamin D metabolites were isolated in pure form from incubations of 53 nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with homogenates of small intestinal mucosa of vitamin D-replete chicks. The birds were injected intravenously with 8 to 9 nmol of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3/100 g body weight 5 to 8 h before death. The isolation involved methanol-chloroform extraction and four successive chromatographic procedures (Sephadex LH-20 and high performance liquid chromatography). Chemical structures of the metabolites are proposed on the basis of (a) their chromatographic behavior, (b) their mass spectra, and (c) ultraviolet absorption spectra. They are identified as 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-23-oxo-vitamin D3 and 1 alpha,25,26-trihydroxy-23-oxo-vitamin D3. Neither of the two new metabolites is produced by the intestinal mucosa when 1,25S,26-trihydroxyvitamin D3 is used as a substrate.