Biomaterial Database

Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on mouse thymus: role of extracellular calcium. 1996

M I Mohamed, and M J Beckman, and J Meehan, and H F DeLuca

Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, 53706, USA.

We recently reported that mice treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ( 1,25-(OH)2D3) or 19-nor-1,25-(OH)2D2 experienced a severe loss of their thymocytes and decreased proliferation in response to concanavalin A mitogen. The present study investigated the effect of short-term treatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3 on the thymic architecture and thymocyte subsets. Daily treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 at 20 ng per mouse for 4 days induced significant involution of thymic tissue. The atrophy was predominantly observed in the cortical component. Flow cytometric analysis of thymocyte subsets showed that the CD4 + CD8 + population was the primary target. Since the treated mice experienced profound hypercalcemia, we studied the effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on animals fed a vitamin D-deficient, low calcium diet or the same diet containing vitamin D for 25 days prior to treatment. The low calcium fed mice showed severe hypocalcemia and slight thinning of thymic cortex. Treatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3 moderately improved the hypocalcemia but had no further effect on the thymus of these animals. On the other hand, hypercalcemia and thymic atrophy were found in the animals fed the diet containing vitamin D. Overall, the atrophy effect on the thymus caused by 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment was prevented by eliminating the hypercalcemia observed in + D + Ca treated animals. Thus, thymic atrophy probably resulted from hypercalcemia and not from 1,25-(OH)2D3 itself.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D002117	Calcitriol	The physiologically active form of vitamin D. It is formed primarily in the kidney by enzymatic hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (CALCIFEDIOL). Its production is stimulated by low blood calcium levels and parathyroid hormone. Calcitriol increases intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and in concert with parathyroid hormone increases bone resorption.	1 alpha,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol,1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3,1, 25-(OH)2D3,1,25(OH)2D3,1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol,1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3,1 alpha, 25-dihydroxy-20-epi-Vitamin D3,1,25(OH)2-20epi-D3,1,25-dihydroxy-20-epi-Vitamin D3,20-epi-1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecaliferol,Bocatriol,Calcijex,Calcitriol KyraMed,Calcitriol-Nefro,Decostriol,MC-1288,MC1288,Osteotriol,Renatriol,Rocaltrol,Silkis,Sitriol,Soltriol,Tirocal,1 alpha,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3,1,25 Dihydroxycholecalciferol,1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3,1,25 dihydroxy 20 epi Vitamin D3,Calcitriol Nefro,D3, 1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin,D3, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin,D3, 1,25-dihydroxy-20-epi-Vitamin,KyraMed, Calcitriol,MC 1288
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D003907	Dexamethasone	An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid.	Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D005434	Flow Cytometry	Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.	Cytofluorometry, Flow,Cytometry, Flow,Flow Microfluorimetry,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting,Microfluorometry, Flow,Cell Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated,Cell Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated,Cytofluorometries, Flow,Cytometries, Flow,Flow Cytofluorometries,Flow Cytofluorometry,Flow Cytometries,Flow Microfluorometries,Flow Microfluorometry,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sortings,Microfluorimetry, Flow,Microfluorometries, Flow,Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated Cell,Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013950	Thymus Gland	A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat.	Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D016176	T-Lymphocyte Subsets	A classification of T-lymphocytes, especially into helper/inducer, suppressor/effector, and cytotoxic subsets, based on structurally or functionally different populations of cells.	T-Cell Subset,T-Cell Subsets,T-Lymphocyte Subset,Subset, T-Cell,Subset, T-Lymphocyte,Subsets, T-Cell,Subsets, T-Lymphocyte,T Cell Subset,T Cell Subsets,T Lymphocyte Subset,T Lymphocyte Subsets
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus