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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Vitamin D Receptors in a Naturally Vitamin D-Deficient Subterranean Mammal, the Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber): Biochemical Characterization
General and Comparative Endocrinology, Volume 90, No. 3, Year 1993
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Description
1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the hormonally active metabolite of vitamin D3 interacts with its nuclear/cytosolic receptor to induce biological responses in target tissues. Naked mole rats appear to be naturally deficient in vitamin D. The questions arise whether these animals possess the 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR) and whether they are capable of responding to 1,25(OH)2D3 via receptor-mediated pathways. Various tissues (intestine, kidney. Harderian glands, and skin) were examined for the presence and biochemical characterization (as indicated by saturation, sucrose density gradient, DNA binding, and ligand-competitive analysis) of VDRs. In addition homologous upregulation of VDRs in these tissues and induction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (24-OHase) in the kidney was studied as indicators of the VDR-mediated biological responses. Naked mole rats have VDRs in the intestine, kidney, and Harderian gland but not in skin. Biochemical characterization of VDRs and VDR-mediated biological responses in the intestine and kidney correspond to those found in similar target tissues of other mammals. Harderian gland VDR is at a lower concentration yet shows a markedly higher affinity and selectivity to 1,25(OH)2D3 than that of the intestine and kidney. Vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in VDR upregulation in the intestine and kidney and induced renal 24-OHase but had no effects on VDRs in Harderian glands. These data demonstrate that naked mole rats possess VDRs in intestine, kidney, and Harderian glands; these VDRs differ in their biochemical characteristics. © 1993 by Academic Press, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sergeev, I. N.
South Africa, Tygerberg
South African Medical Research Council
United States, Huntingdon
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Buffenstein, Rochelle B.
South Africa, Johannesburg
School of Clinical Medicine
Pettifor, John M.
South Africa, Tygerberg
South African Medical Research Council
Statistics
Citations: 10
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1006/gcen.1993.1089
Research Areas
Cancer
Genetics And Genomics
Study Approach
Qualitative