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Solanum glaucophyllum contains the calciotropic hormone 1, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). The metabolic pathway leading to the formation of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the plant is largely unknown. Specifically, there is controversy about the participation of a photolytic reaction in the generation of vitamin D3 and its metabolites. To investigate the requirement for light, S. glaucophyllum tissue (callus) and cell suspension cultures grown under strict conditions of darkness were extracted with chloroform/methanol (1:2, v/v) followed by purification of the lipidic fraction by Sephadex LH-20 and high-performance liquid chromatography. HPLC peaks with elution times similar to those of authentic samples of 7-dehydrocholesterol, vitamin D3, 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 were detected. The presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 was also evidenced by [3H]1,25(OH)2D3 competitive binding analysis using the chick hormone intestinal receptor. Furthermore, 7-dehydrocholesterol, vitamin D3, 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 were unequivocally identified by mass spectrometry. Incubation of control samples of 7-dehydrocholesterol under the same conditions as S. glaucophyllum cultures did not result in vitamin D3 formation, excluding the influence of light in these experiments. The results suggest that a synthetic route of vitamin D3 compounds independent of light operates in Solanum glaucophyllum cultured in vitro.

In order to explore ways of dealing with this phenomenon of illegal abortions and restrictive abortion laws in Latin America, several special sessions were held at last summer's international conference in Toronto, sponsored by the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics. The sessions brought together lawyers, health professionals, and reproductive rights advocates from a number of Latin American countries; their counterparts in the developed world; and representatives of non-governmental agencies concerned with this issue, including Catholics for a Free Choice. The goal of the sessions was to share information on the status of abortion in various countries and to try to devise strategies to make abortion law reform more palatable to Latin American governments and public opinion. One major component of the sessions was a series of papers prepared by some of the Latin American representatives describing and analyzing the situations in their countries. The papers illustrate some of the issues facing women in this part of the world.