A microdensitometric method was employed to determine enzyme activities in situ in undisrupted tissue rat duodenum. The effect of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity and on the two utilization pathways of synthesized NADPH, H1 (mixed function oxidation) and H2 (biosynthesis), was studied. In normal animals, a crypt-to-villus gradient of G6PD activity and of both NADPH utilization pathways was observed. A high level of NADPH utilization occurred predominantly via the H2 pathway. In vitamin D-deficient rat animals, G6PD activity in the middle part of the villus was approximately 60% lower than in normal animals [10.05 +/- 0.35 vs. 3.95 +/- 0.26 (means +/- SE) A585.min-1.micron-3 X 10(5), P less than 0.001] with reduced NADPH utilization via the H2 pathway (8.39 +/- 0.49 vs. 2.73 +/- 0.43 A585.min-1.micron-3 X 10(5), P less than 0.001) but not the H1 pathway (1.65 +/- 0.17 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.19 A585.min-1.micron-3 X 10(5), P = NS). Intraperitoneal administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 (500 pmol) to vitamin D-deficient animals resulted in increased G6PD activity within 30 min (4.09 +/- 0.38 vs. 5.51 +/- 0.39 A585.min-1.micron-3 X 10(5), P less than 0.05), attaining normal levels within 2 h. The H2 but not the H1 pathway of NADPH utilization increased significantly in response to 1,25(OH)2D3. This increase is essentially located in the basal and middle parts of the villus. Thus 1,25(OH)2D3 may influence biosynthesis in the duodenum via stimulation of G6PD activity and the H2 pathway of NADPH utilization.