The possibility of pathological calcium metabolism is a critical health concern introduced by long-term space travel. Because vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis, we evaluated the effects of hypergravity on the expression of genes involved in vitamin D and calcium metabolism in ICR mice. When exposed to 2G hypergravity for 2 days, the mRNA expression of renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D 24-hydroxylase (Cyp24a1) was increased and that of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1␣-hydroxylase (Cyp27b1) was decreased. Although hypergravity decreased food intake and increased the expression of starvation-induced genes, the changes in Cyp24a1 and Cyp27b1 expression were not due to starvation, suggesting that hypergravity affects these genes directly. Hypergravity decreased plasma 1␣,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels in ICR mice, suggesting a consequence of decreased Cyp27b1 and increased Cyp24a1 expression. Although 1␣-hydroxyvitamin D3 [1␣(OH)D3] treatment induced the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) target genes in the kidney of 2G-exposed ICR mice to similar levels as controls, 1␣(OH)D3 increased the intestinal expression of Cyp24a1 in ICR mice. Hypergravity-dependent changes of Cyp24a1 and Cyp27b1 expression were diminished in mice exposed to hypergravity for 14 days, which may represent an adaptation to hypergravity stress. Hypergravity exposure also increased Cyp24a1 expression in the kidney of C57BL/6J mice. We examined the effects of hypergravity on VDRnull mice and found that renal Cyp27b1 expression in VDR-null mice was decreased by hypergravity while renal Cyp24a1 expression was not detected in VDR-null mice. Thus hypergravity modifies the expression of genes involved in vitamin D metabolism. 12), and vitamin D 2 is less effective than vitamin D 3 in maintaining serum 25(OH)D levels (1). Vitamin D deficiency, mainly caused by inadequate sun exposure, results in rickets and osteomalacia, and is also associated with increased risk of cancer, autoimmune disease, infection, and cardiovascular disease (10). 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 exhibits physiological and pharmacological effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR; NR1I1), a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which is highly expressed in the target organs of calcium homeostasis, such as the intestine, bone, kidney, and parathyroid glands (6, 21). VDR regulates the expression of many target genes, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1), calbindin D9k, and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 (TRPV6).Bone mineral loss is one of the critical health concerns raised by the prospect of long-term space travel (19,29). Space flight induces uncoupled bone remodeling, including increased bone resorption and urinary calcium excretion and decreased calcium absorption. Vitamin D deficiency due to the absence of ultraviolet light and decreased dietary intake of vitamin D during space flight has been considered to be one reason for dysregulated bone and calcium metabolism (30). Supplemental vitamin D and calcium intake increase blood...