HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Okura, N. Articles by Koiwa, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Okura, N. Articles by Koiwa, M.

Technical Note: Vaginal Absorption of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in Cattle

¹ Large Animal Clinical Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan
² Research Center for Animal Hygiene and Food Safety, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
³ Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan
⁴ Central Veterinary Clinical Center, Kamikawa Chuo Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8208, Japan

Corresponding author: N. Okura; e-mail: n-ohkura{at}mvg.biglobe.ne.jp.

Although exogenous 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1,25(OH)₂D₃] administered via intravenous, intramuscular, and oral routes has been tested for efficacy in preventing parturient hypocalcemia in dairy cows, there are few reports concerning intravaginal administration. For this study, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ was administered via the bovine vaginal lumen, and subsequent changes in blood chemistry, including levels of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ and several minerals, were measured to confirm vaginal absorption. Each of 5 heifers received a single intravaginal dose of 1 µg of 1,25(OH)₂D₃/kg body weight; a single control heifer received the ethanol carrier alone. In heifers receiving 1,25(OH)₂D₃, the plasma 1,25(OH)₂D₃ levels increased markedly from baseline (88.3 ± 20.3 pg/mL) within 2 h and reached a peak at 6 h after treatment (1967.4 ± 1139.6 pg/mL). Plasma Ca levels increased from baseline (10.4 ± 0.4 mg/dL) to a peak of 11.96 ± 0.7 mg/dL at 24 h. The levels of inorganic phosphate in plasma increased over time from 7.3 ± 0.5 to 8.1 ± 0.8 mg/dL by 6 h and were maintained at a plateau level (9.1 ± 0.7 to 8.6 ± 0.6 mg/dL) from 24 to 96 h after treatment. Plasma magnesium decreased from a baseline level of 2.1 ± 0.1 mg/dL to a plateau level of 1.8 ± 0.1 mg/dL, which was sustained from 24 to 48 h after treatment. The present study provides evidence of the absorption of exogenous 1,25(OH)₂D₃ from the bovine vaginal wall, as shown by the marked elevation of plasma 1,25(OH)₂D₃ levels by 2 h after administration, and indicates the possible utility of intravaginal administration of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ for prophylaxis of hypocalcemia.

Key Words: heifer • intravaginal administration • 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃

Abbreviation key: 1,25(OH)₂D₃ = 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, iP = inorganic P, VD₃ = vitamin D₃

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. S. Taylor, K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, W. M. Seymour, and J. H. Herbein Blood Mineral, Hormone, and Osteocalcin Responses of Multiparous Jersey Cows to an Oral Dose of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 or Vitamin D3 Before Parturition J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2008; 91(6): 2408 - 2416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Rivera, S. E. Bachman, M. E. Hubbert, M. E. Branine, R. L. Horst, S. N. Williams, and M. L. Galyean Short Communication: Serum and Tissue Concentrations of Vitamin D Metabolites in Beef Heifers After Buccal Dosing of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2005; 88(4): 1364 - 1369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]