Developmental Vitamin D Deficiency Affects Spatial Learning in Wistar Rats.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern.
• Emerging evidence links vitamin D to brain development and function.
• The impact of developmental vitamin D deficiency (DVDD) on pediatric cognitive function and brain development requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of DVDD on cognitive functions and brain morphology in developing rat pups.
• To assess spatial learning and memory using the Morris water maze.
• To measure hippocampal cortical thickness and synapse density.

Main Methods:

• Wistar rat pups were exposed to varying durations of vitamin D deficiency during gestation and lactation.
• Spatial learning and memory were evaluated at postnatal days 24 and 45.
• Cortical thickness and hippocampal synapse counts were assessed at postnatal days 32 and 63.

Main Results:

• Learning was impaired in pups with deficiency during gestation and lactation at postnatal day 24, and in those deficient during lactation or both periods at postnatal day 45.
• All DVDD groups exhibited significantly reduced hippocampal synapse numbers and cortical thickness by postnatal day 63.
• Short-term and long-term memory remained largely unaffected across all tested groups and time points.

Conclusions:

• Developmental vitamin D deficiency, particularly when combined across gestation and lactation for at least six weeks, significantly impacts learning in rat pups.
• DVDD leads to notable alterations in brain morphology, including reduced synapse density and cortical thickness in the hippocampus.
• While learning is affected, memory function appears resilient to developmental vitamin D deficiency in this model.