Recent reports hypothesize that calcium plays an important role in providing cationic
shielding to keep negatively charged mucins condensed and tightly packed within mucus
granules of goblet cells. Vitamin D controls mineral ion homeostasis and intestinal calcium
absorption, which is mediated by the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR). Hypocalcemia is
observed in mice in which the VDR has been ablated. The purpose of this study was to test
the hypothesis that normal levels of calcium are required for the physiological packaging of …