Abstract
There is growing evidence that low vitamin D impacts adversely on brain development. The current study investigated the impact of developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency on dopamine and serotonin metabolism in the neonatal rat brain. DVD-deficiency resulted in an altered dopaminergic metabolic profile in the forebrain, with a decrease in the conversion of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to homovanillic acid (HVA). Correspondingly, expression of the enzyme required for this conversion, catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), was decreased. These results suggest that DVD-deficiency influences dopamine turnover during development.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / metabolism
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Catechol O-Methyltransferase / biosynthesis
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Dopamine / metabolism*
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Female
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Homovanillic Acid / metabolism
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Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / metabolism
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Mesencephalon / embryology
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Mesencephalon / growth & development
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Mesencephalon / metabolism
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Monoamine Oxidase / biosynthesis
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Norepinephrine / metabolism
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy Complications / metabolism*
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Prosencephalon / growth & development
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Prosencephalon / metabolism*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Serotonin / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Vitamin D Deficiency / embryology
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Vitamin D Deficiency / metabolism*
Substances
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3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid
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Serotonin
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Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
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Monoamine Oxidase
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Catechol O-Methyltransferase
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Dopamine
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Norepinephrine
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Homovanillic Acid