Although motor coordination or motor skill learning are improved by taking vitamin D in the animal experiment, muscle function have not been estimated. Here we examined the effect of vitamin D3 administration on motor coordination and motor skill learning, muscle strength, and muscle volume in mice fed a vitamin D deficient diet. In mice fed a vitamin D deficient diet, serum calcium and 25(OH)D3 concentrations were measured. We then conducted Rotarod test, beam walking assay, micro-CT analysis, and forelimb grip strength test. Administration of vitamin D3 elongated the retention time in the Rotarod test in a time dependent manner. In contrast, the time to reach a beam goal box in beam walking assay was not changed in mice administered with vitamin D3, compared to the control. Oral administration of vitamin D3 did not affect muscle strength nor muscle volume. Oral administration of vitamin D3 promotes not motor coordination but motor skill learning and does not affect muscle function.
Keywords: motor coordination; motor skill learning; muscle strength; muscle volume; vitamin D3.