Skip to main content
Log in

An electron microscopic localization of calcium in the small intestine of normal, rachitic, and vitamin-D-treated rats

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Calcified Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The intracellular localization of calcium in the mucosal lining of the small intestine of normal, rachitic, and Vitamin D2 treated rats was studied using45Ca-autoradiography, microincineration, and electron microscopy.

Small, electron-dense granules and autoradiographic label were seen primarily within microvilli and mitochondria. The granules were sparse in mitochondria from rachitic rats while normal rat mitochondria demonstrated them regularly. The mitochondria of Vitamin-D2-treated rats contained numerous electron dense granules. These granules remained following microincineration. An inverse relation in the amount of granules appearing in the mitochondria and in the microvillus was found. Granules were limited to the microvillus region in the rachitic animals and increased significantly in the mitochondria following treatment with Vitamin D2. This study indicates that a large amount of calcium is absorbed across the cell membrane and is then bound within the microvillus. Vitamin D is apparently necessary for mobilizing this bound calcium from the microvilli. The mobilized calcium enters the mitochondria or passes through the cell to the adjacent blood vessels.

Résumé

La mise en évidence intracellulaire du calcium au niveau du revêtement muqueux de l'intestin grêle de rats normaux, rachitiques et traités à la vitamine D2 est réalisée à l'aide de l'auto radiographie au45Ca, de la micro-incinération et de la microscopie électronique.

De petits granules denses aux électrons et le marquage autoradiographique sont visibles surtout dans les microvillosités et les mitochondries. Les granules sont rares dans les mitochondries des rats rachitiques, alors que les mitochondries du rat normal en sont toujours pourvues. Les mitochondries des rats, traités à la vitamine D2, contiennent de nombreux granules denses. Ces granules subsistent après micro-incinération. Un rapport inverse est noté dans le nombre des granules présents dans les mitochondries et les microvillosités. Les granules sont limités aux microvillosités chez les animaux rachitiques, et ils augmentent significativement dans les mitochondries après traitement à la vitamine D2. Cette étude indique qu'une quantité importante de calcium est absorbée à travers la membrane cellulaire et ce calcium se lie aux microvillosités. La vitamine D semble nécessaire pour mobiliser le calcium lié aux microvillosités. Ce calcium pénètre dans les mitochondries et traverse la cellule pour aller vers les vaisseaux sanguins adjacents.

Zusammenfassung

Die intrazelluläre Lokalisation von Calcium in der Mucosa des Dünndarms von normalen, rachitischen und Vitamin D2-behandelten Ratten wurde anhand von45Ca-Autoradiographie, Microveraschung und Elektronenmikroskopie untersucht.

Kleine elektronenundurchlässige Granula und autoradiographische Markierung wurden vorerst innerhalb der Microvilli und Mitochondrien festgestellt. Es fanden sich spärlich Granula in den Mitochondrien rachitischer Ratten, während sie in denjenigen von normalen Ratten regelmäßig vorlagen. Die Mitochondrien der Vitamin D2-behandelten Ratten enthielten zahlreiche elektronenundurchlässige Granula. Diese Granula waren auch nach Mikroveraschung noch vorhanden. Die Anzahl der Granula in den Mitochondrien und in den Microvilli standen in einem umgekehrten Verhältnis zueinander. Die Granula waren bei rachitischen Tieren auf die Microvillus-Region beschränkt und stiegen in den Mitochondrien nach Vitamin D2-Behandlung signifikant an. Diese Untersuchung zeigt, daß eine große Calciummenge durch die Zellmembran absorbiert und dann innerhalb des Microvillus gebunden wird. Es scheint, daß Vitamin D für die Freisetzung dieses gebundenen Calciums aus den Microvilli notwendig ist. Das freigesetzte Calcium tritt in die Mitochondrien ein oder wandert durch die Zelle zu den anliegenden Blutgefäßen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Davenport, H. W.: Physiology of the digestive tract, p. 170, Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc. 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fewer, D., Threadgold, J., Sheldon, H.: Studies on cartilage. V. Electron microscopic observations on the autoradiographic localization of S35 in cells and matrix. J. Ultrastruct. Res.11, 166 (1964).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gear, A. R. L., Lehninger, A. L.: Rapid respiration-independent binding of alkali metal cations by rat liver mitochondria. J. biol. Chem.243, 3953 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gran, F. C.: Studies on calcium and strontium-90 metabolism in rats. Acta physiol. scand.,4 Suppl. 167 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, F., Haffenbert, R., Black, E.: Calcium kinetics in Vitamin D deficiency rickets. II. Intestinal handling of calcium. Metabolism14, 1112 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, L. J., Innes, J. R. M.: Mode of action of vitamin D; studies on hypervitaminosis D; influence of calcium-phosphate intake. Biochem. J.25, 367 (1931).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, H. E.: Vitamin D and calcium and phosphate transport. Pediatrics28, 531 (1961).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: Studies with radiocalcium: the intestinal absorption of calcium. J. biol. Chem.188, 83 (1951).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ——: Transfer of Ca45 across intestinal wallin vitro in relation to action of vitamin D cartisol. Amer. J. Physiol.199, 265 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holdsworth, E. S.: Vitamin D3 and calcium absorption in the chick. Biochem. J.96, 475 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kallfelz, F. A., Taylor, A. N., Wasserman, R. H.: Vitamin D-induced calcium binding factor in rat intestinal mucosa. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.)125, 54 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunin, A. S., Krane, S. M.: The effect of dietary phosphorus on the intermediary metabolism of epiphyseal cartilage from rachitic rats. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)107, 203 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Manery, J. F.: Effects of cations on membranes. Fed. Proc.25, 1804 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. H., Matthews, J. L.: Mitochondrial granules in chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and osteocytes; an ultrastructural and microincineration study. Clin. Orthop. Res.68, 273 (1969a).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Mitochondrial granules in chondrocytes. Calc. Tiss. Res.3, 184 (1969b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, J. L., Martin, J. H., Sampson, H. W., Kunin, A. S.: Mitochondrial granules in the normal and rachitic rat epiphysis. Calc. Tiss. Res.5, 91

  • Migikovsky, B. B., Jamieson, J. W. S.: Calcium absorption and Vitamin D. Canad. J. Biochem.33, 202 (1955).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peachey, L. D.: Electron microscopic observations on the accumulation of divalent cations in intramitochondrial granules. J. Cell Biol.20, 95 (1964).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, H.: Mitochondrial ion transport: mechanism and physiological significance. Fed. Proc.25, 903 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruch-Patton: Physiology and Biophysics. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sallis, J. D., Holdsworth, E. S.: Calcium metabolism in relation to vitamin D3 and adrenal function in the chick. Amer. J. Physiol.203, 497 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, D., Kimbert, D. V., Schenker, H.: Active transport of calcium by intestine: action and bio-assay of vitamin D. Amer. J. Physiol.200, 1263 (1961).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, B. G., Draper, H. H.: Depression of calcium absorption in parathyroidectomized rats. Amer. J. Physiol.211, 963 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, J. H.: Effect of nutritional factors on bones and teeth. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.60, 733 (1955).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R. S., Greenawalt, J. W.: Microincineration, electron microscopy, and electron diffraction of calcium phosphate loaded mitochondria. J. Cell Biol.39, 55 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vasington, F. D., Murphy, J. V.: Ca uptake by rat kidney mitochondria and its dependence on respiration and phosphorylation. J. biol. Chem.237, 2670 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, R. H.: Studies on vitamin D3 and the intestinal absorption of calcium and other ions in the rachitic chick. J. Nutr.77, 69 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: The transfer of calcium and strontium across biological membranes (ed. by author) New York-London: Academic Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Calcium transport by the intestine: a model and comment on vitamin D action. Calc. Tiss. Res.2, 301 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Taylor, A. N.: Vitamin D3 induced calcium binding protein in chick intestinal mucosa. Science152, 791 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Vitamin D-independent calcium binding protein: purification and some properties. J. biol. Chem.243, 3978 (1968a).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ——: Vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein: response to some physiological and nutritional variables. J. biol. Chem.243, 3987 (1968b).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, T. H.: Intestinal absorption. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company 1962.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This work was supported in part by NIH grants, numbers AM-09,632 and DE-224-01.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sampson, H.W., Matthews, J.L., Martin, J.H. et al. An electron microscopic localization of calcium in the small intestine of normal, rachitic, and vitamin-D-treated rats. Calc. Tis Res. 5, 305–316 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017560

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017560

Key words

Navigation