Abstract
A study was undertaken to ascertain whether vitamin D has a direct action on the mineralization of the dentin in rats made rachitic by a diet low in calcium and deficient in vitamin D. Physiological amounts of vitamin D, given orally to rachitic rats, increased their serum calcium from 4.8±0.5 mg/100 ml to 7.5±0.4 mg/100ml. The mineralization of dentin recovered markedly, although osteoporosis occurred in bone trabeculae. The results suggest that vitamin D increases serum calcium by accelerating bone resorption and that the increased serum calcium level acts directly to mineralize the dentin. When calcium was given to rachitic rats by subcutaneous injection, the serum calcium level increased and mineralization of dentin recovered to the same extent as that observed in rats given vitamin D. These results indicate that recovery of mineralization of rachitic dentin depends primarily on recovery of the serum calcium level and that vitamin D is an indirect factor in the mineralization process.
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