Abstract
Evidence for the presence of the vitamin D receptor in brain implies this vitamin may have some function in this organ. This study investigates whether vitamin D(3) acts during brain development. We demonstrate that rats born to vitamin D(3)-deficient mothers had profound alterations in the brain at birth. The cortex was longer but not wider, the lateral ventricles were enlarged, the cortex was proportionally thinner and there was more cell proliferation throughout the brain. There were reductions in brain content of nerve growth factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and reduced expression of p75(NTR), the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor. Our findings would suggest that low maternal vitamin D(3) has important ramifications for the developing brain.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Brain / abnormalities*
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Brain / metabolism*
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Brain / physiopathology
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cell Division / physiology
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Cholecalciferol / deficiency*
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Down-Regulation / physiology
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Female
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Immunohistochemistry
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Male
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Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
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Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
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Nervous System Malformations / metabolism*
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Nervous System Malformations / pathology
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Nervous System Malformations / physiopathology
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism
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Placental Insufficiency / metabolism*
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Placental Insufficiency / pathology
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Placental Insufficiency / physiopathology
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Pregnancy
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
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Stem Cells / cytology
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Stem Cells / metabolism
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Vitamin D Deficiency / metabolism*
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Vitamin D Deficiency / pathology
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Vitamin D Deficiency / physiopathology
Substances
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Gdnf protein, rat
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
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Cholecalciferol
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Nerve Growth Factor