Fecal elimination of endogenous calcium in pregnant rats

Abstract

Fecal elimination of endogenous calcium in pregnaney rats

We determined the elimination of en­ dogenous fecal calcium, by feeding the rats on a calcium-free diet.

A study was made of the modifications in the values of endogenous fecal calcium due to the addition of sodium oxalate to the diet; as well as gestation at two different periods, one nearer fecundation and the other nearer birth.

Lastly, we observed the influence of the losses of calcium on the number of offspring of pregnant rats.

We have drawn the following conclusions:

Fecal elimination of endogenous cal­ cium increases notably during gestation. Valúes of endogenous fecal calcium are less during the more advanced period of gestation, although always higher than those obtained in non-pregnant rats.

We confirm that sodium oxalate increa­ ses the excretion of endogenous calcium in faeces. We had already reported this.

The increase of endogenous fecal cal­ cium due to the addition of oxalate is very similar for both pregnant and non-preg­nant rats during either of the two periods tested. This appears to indicate that the action of the oxalate is independent of the quantity of the excretion and secretion of calcium. As we suggested on a previous occasion, the action mechanism of the oxalate is the precipitation of the calcium secreted by the intestinal wall.

The increase of the fecal elimination of endogenous calcium caused by the oxalate did not in any case apparently alter thedevelopment of gestation, birth or the characteristics of the offspring.