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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Primary Culture of Mouse Dopaminergic Neurons
Published on: September 8, 2014
Maternal vitamin D deficiency alters the expression of genes involved in dopamine specification in the developing rat
Xiaoying Cui1, Matthew Pelekanos, Thomas H J Burne
1Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia.
Abstract:
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopment disorder that is strongly associated with alterations in dopamine neurotransmission. Common features of animal models of schizophrenia include behavioural, cognitive and/or pharmacological abnormalities reflective of aberrant DA signaling. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of genes important for dopaminergic development and maturation within the embryonic mesencephalon using an epidemiologically-informed animal model of schizophrenia, the developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficient rat model. Two groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a diet replete (1000IU/kg) or deplete (0IU/kg) of vitamin D, mated and foetal mesencephalon collected at embryonic day (E) E12 or E15. Using real time-PCR, the DVD-deficient embryos had a significant reduction in factors crucial in specifying dopaminergic phenotype, such as Nurr1 and p57Kip2. No group differences were found for Lmx1b or Ptx3. Reductions in these specification factors may alter the ontogeny of DA neurons and may ultimately help to explain the behavioural abnormalities reported in adult offspring from this model.
Insights
Developmental vitamin D deficiency in rats reduced key genes for dopamine neuron development. This may explain behavioral issues seen in offspring, offering insights into schizophrenia origins.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder linked to dopamine signaling disruptions.
- Animal models exhibiting behavioral and cognitive changes reflect aberrant dopamine signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gene expression related to dopaminergic development in the embryonic mesencephalon.
- Utilized the developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficient rat model, informed by epidemiology.
Main Methods:
- Compared vitamin D replete and deplete Sprague-Dawley rat groups.
- Collected embryonic mesencephalon at embryonic days 12 and 15.
- Quantified gene expression using real-time PCR.
Main Results:
- DVD-deficient embryos showed significantly reduced expression of Nurr1 and p57Kip2, crucial for dopaminergic phenotype specification.
- No significant differences were observed for Lmx1b and Ptx3 gene expression between groups.
Conclusions:
- Reduced expression of key specification factors in DVD-deficient embryos may disrupt dopamine neuron development.
- These molecular changes could underlie the behavioral abnormalities observed in adult offspring of this schizophrenia model.
