In birds and mammals, vitamin D3 is 25-hydroxylated in the 24,25(OH)2D3 was identified by cochromatography with liver and converted to the prohormone 25(OH)D3, which underauthentic standard on four different HPLC systems, scan-goes further hydroxylation steps principally in the kidney. The ning UV spectrophotometry profile of the metabolite, sen-two major dihydroxylated metabolites produced in the kidney sitivity to periodate cleavage, and mass spectrometry of are 1,25(OH)zD3, which is the hormonal form of the vitamin (I), the putative placental 24,25(OH)2D3 and its periodate and 24,25(OH)2D3 (2, 3), a putative regulator of developmental cleavage product. We also identified for the first time bone formation (4-13). The biologic roles of the other known placental synthesis of 23,25(OH)2D3 using cochromatog-natural dihydroxylated vitamin D3 metabolites, 23,25(OH)2D3 raphy with authentic standard on two different HPLC and 26,25(OH)2D3, are not well understood. systems, scanning UV spectrophotometry, resistance toThe observation that nephrectomized, vitamin D3-deficient periodate cleavage, and mass spectrometry. When troph-pregnant rats retain the ability to convert ['H]25(OH)D3 to [3H] oblast was incubated for up to 4 h with physiologic concen-1,25(OH)2D3 in vivo (14, 15) (17) and human (18-22) placenta or incubated trophoblast with supraphysiologic concentra-decidua. In contrast to placental la-hydroxylation, 24R-hydroxtions of 25(OH)D3 (6-10 pM), both 24,25(OH)2D3 and ylation of 25(OH)D3 has not been thoroughly investigated. Sev-1,25(OH)2D3 were synthesized. These results provide un-eral reports have identified placenta as a possible site for 24-equivocal evidence for placental synthesis of both hydroxylation (16, 18-21), but none of these studies character-24,25(OH)2D3 and 23,25(OH)2D3. These findings also sug-ized the putative placental 24,25(OH)2D3 through more extensive gest that supraphysiologic substrate concentrations satu-chromatographic analysis or by mass spectrometry. Moreover, rate the placental 24-hydroxylase and may permit accu-recently Hollis et al. (22) failed to demonstrate any 24,25(OH)2D3 mulation of placental 1,25(OH)2D3 by preventing its fur-production by either human placental homogenates or subcelther metabolism. Consequently, the identification of this lular fractions, despite evidence for l,25(OH)2D3 production in high basal 24-hydroxylase activity in trophoblast may these preparations. These inconsistencies among previous reports explain inconsistencies among previous reports regarding prompted us to investigate whether placenta might possess a placental 1,25(OH)2D3 production. We speculate that ac-biologically important 25(OH)D3-24-hydroxylation pathway. tive placental 24-hydroxylation may serve important func-Like kidney, placenta apparently synthesizes 1,25(OH)2D3 and tions in perinatal vitamin D metabolism. (Pediatr Res 34: expresses 1,25(OH)zD3 receptors (23). In kidney, 24R-and la-98-104,1993) hydroxylase activities are regulated in a reciprocal fashion (24-26); 1,25(OH)2D...