N. Inpanbutr et al., EFFECT OF VITAMIN-D ON TESTICULAR CABP28K EXPRESSION AND SERUM TESTOSTERONE IN CHICKENS, Biology of reproduction, 54(1), 1996, pp. 242-248
Vitamin D is known to reverse infertility in male and female rats. Thi
s study was an investigation of the effects of vitamin D deficiency on
calbindin-D-28K (CaBP28K) and testosterone levels in male chickens. C
hickens were raised from 1 day of age to 8 wk of age on a normal or a
vitamin D-deficient diet. A radioreceptor assay showed that serum vita
min D levels were significantly higher in chickens fed a normal diet t
han in those fed a vitamin D-deficient diet. The morphology of the sem
iniferous tubules was not different between the vitamin D-replete and
vitamin D-deficient chickens. Immunohistochemical studies revealed tha
t CaBP28K was present in spermatogonia and spermatocytes of the semini
ferous tubules. A few interstitial Leydig cells were positive for CaBP
28K. RIA was used to quantify the amount of CaBP28K in the testes, whi
ch was threefold higher in chickens raised on a normal diet than in ch
ickens raised on a vitamin D-deficient diet. Testosterone concentratio
n in serum, determined by RIA, was not different between the two group
s. Neither serum calcium nor phosphorus levels were different between
the two groups. This investigation represents the first demonstration
of the effect of vitamin D deficiency on CaBP28K expression in chicken
testes. The results indicate that the decrease in testicular CaBP28K
concentration was attributable to vitamin D deficiency despite normal
serum testosterone and calcium levels in 8-wk-old chickens.