Maternal vitamin D status has no effect on the ontogeny of calcium-binding proteins in the duodenum, kidney and cerebellum of fetal mice

The effects of vitamin D₃ deficiency on the ontogeny of calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) and the vitamin D receptor in the duodenum, kidney and cerebellum of the mouse were examined. Maternal vitamin D status did not affect the time of appearance of the fetal 28 kDa CaBP (CaBP-D(28k)) in the cerebellum, kidney and duodenum, and the 9 kDa CaBP (CaBP-D(9k)) in the intestine and kidney. Vitamin D receptor was undetectable in all fetal tissues, regardless of maternal vitamin D status, at all stages of gestation examined. Thus it appears that maternal vitamin D status does not affect the ontogeny of CaBP-D(9k) or CaBP-D(28k) in the mouse fetus. The factors that influence the appearance of calbindins in the fetus are unclear.