The effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the vitamin D metabolism of pregnant rats were investigated in mothers and their fetuses, 11 and 14 days after streptozotocin (SZ) injection, i.e., on days 18 and 21 of gestation. In the mothers' plasma, the levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2 D) were not different from control levels on day 18, but on day 21, 25OHD had increased, 1,25 (OH)2 D had diminished, and significant hypercalcemia was noted (10.1 +/- 0.27 mg/dl vs. 9.47 +/- 0.19 mg/dl, mean +/- SD). In hyperglycemic fetuses from the diabetic mothers, plasma insulin levels were reduced at day 18 but enhanced at day 21. 25OHD levels were not different from those of the controls at day 18, but were lower at day 21 (2.12 +/- 0.70 ng/g BW, n = 13, vs. 3.75 +/- 1.40 ng/g BW n = 29 controls, means +/- SD). Fetal body levels of 1,25 (OH)2 D were lower than that in the controls at day 18 (16.6 +/- 2.9 pg/g BW, n = 9 x 2, vs. 28.7 +/- 6.3 pg/g BW, n = 7 x 2, mean +/- SD P less than 0.001), but identical to control levels on day 21. The role of fetal or placental enzymes in the regulation of vitamin D metabolism in fetuses is discussed.