Bone metabolic disorders caused by small bowel resection, and the influence of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 on the rats

Metabolic bone disorders caused by resection of the distal three quarters of the small bowel and the effects of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1α(OH)D3) on the rats were investigated biochemically and histomorphologically. 1α(OH)D3 was administered orally to the rats for 13 weeks. A group of “ sham operation” animals and the 75%-distal-small-bowel-resected control animals received only the vehicle. Bone changes developed 13 weeks after the partial bowel resection. The disorder was characterized by reductions in ash content of the femur and by the disappearance of the trabecular bone in tibial metaphysis.