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Published on: July 14, 2016
Impaired motor performance in mice lacking neurosteroid vitamin D receptors
Allan V Kalueff1, Yan-Ru Lou, Ilkka Laaksi
1Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere 33014, Finland. avkalueff@inbox.ru
Abstract:
Vitamin D is a neuroactive seco-steroid and its importance to the nervous system is receiving increasing recognition. Since numerous data link vitamin D dysfunctions to various neurological and behavioural disorders, we studied whether genetic ablation of vitamin D receptors (VDR) may be associated with motor impairments in mice subjected to several behavioural tests. The data obtained in the vertical screen and swim tests show that VDR genetic ablation produces severe motor impairment (shorter screen retention and poor swimming) in mutant mice compared to wild-type and heterozygous control animals. These impairments appear to be unrelated to visual, vestibular and activity/emotionality parameters of mice, and are likely associated with disturbed calcium homeostasis. This study confirms the important role of the vitamin D system in motor functions and suggests that animal genetic models targeting the vitamin D/VDR system may be a useful tool to study vitamin D-related motor/behavioural disorders.
Insights
Mice lacking vitamin D receptors (VDR) showed severe motor impairments, indicating the vitamin D system is crucial for motor function. This highlights VDR genetic models for studying related neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
Background:
- Vitamin D is a neuroactive steroid with growing recognition for its role in the nervous system.
- Dysfunctions in vitamin D signaling are linked to neurological and behavioral disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if genetic ablation of vitamin D receptors (VDR) is associated with motor impairments in mice.
- To explore the role of the vitamin D system in motor functions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized behavioral tests, including the vertical screen and swim tests, on mice with VDR genetic ablation.
- Compared motor performance of VDR knockout mice with wild-type and heterozygous controls.
Main Results:
- Mice lacking VDR exhibited significant motor impairments, demonstrated by shorter screen retention and poorer swimming ability.
- These motor deficits were not attributed to visual, vestibular, or activity/emotionality changes.
- The impairments are likely linked to disruptions in calcium homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- The vitamin D system plays a critical role in maintaining motor functions.
- Genetic models targeting the vitamin D/VDR system are valuable tools for studying motor and behavioral disorders associated with vitamin D deficiency.
