Behavior changes due to low vitamin D – in rodents

The impact of vitamin D deficiency on behavior and brain function in rodents

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Available online 26 November 2015, doi:10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.11.012

K Overeem1, DW Eyles1, 2, JJ McGrath1, 2, THJ Burne1, 2,

Highlights

•We review studies using rodent models of vitamin D deficiency.

•Prenatal vitamin D deficiency alters brain development.

•Adult vitamin D deficiency alters behaviour.

Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed as an environmental risk factor for several neurological disorders. To investigate the biological plausibility of this risk factor, vitamin D (DVD) deficiency rodent models have been used to examine the impact of DVD deficiency on neurobiology and behaviour. The majority of these studies have taken a developmental stance and examined the impact of vitamin D deficiency during gestation on the adult behaviour of the offspring .

In the rat , the most constant behavioural phenotypes include

• hyperlocomotion in response to novelty,

• psychostimulant sensitively,

• impulsivity, and

• augmented motivation.

However, in the mouse

• increased exploratory behaviour and

• motivational alterations are observed.

Researchers have also examined the affect of adult vitamin D deficiency in rodents.

The resultant behavioural alterations include

• increased exploratory activity and

• impulsivity in the rat ,

While

• increased hyperlocomotion and

• sensory sensitivity is observed in the mouse .

Thus, both the developing and adult brain are sensitive to dietary vitamin D status. However, the behavioural alterations are subtle and influenced by factors such as species, strain, sex, and age. This illustrates the amenability and complexity of neurobiological systems that are influenced by vitamin D status. Nonetheless, with increasing evidence for epidemiological associations between neuropathological disorders and vitamin D, carefully designed rodent models are well placed as a tool to explore the neurobiological and behavioural domains that may be sensitive to vitamin D.

Crown copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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See also VitaminDWiki

• ADHD and Vitamin D Deficiency

• Autism treated by Vitamin D: Dr. Cannell - video June 2013 includes many reasons why he believes Autism is related to Vitamin D

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