title: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces nerve growth factor, promotes neurite outgrowth and inhibits mitosis in embryonic rat hippocampal neurons.
abstract: There is an accumulation of evidence implicating a role for vitamin D(3) in the developing brain. The receptor for this seco-steroid is expressed in both neurons and glial cells, it induces nerve growth factor (NGF) and it is a potent inhibitor of mitosis and promoter of differentiation in numerous cells. We have therefore assessed the direct effect of vitamin D(3) on mitosis, neurite outgrowth, as well as NGF production as a possible mediator of those effects, in developing neurons. Using cultured embryonic hippocampal cells and explants we found the addition of vitamin D(3) significantly decreases the percentage of cultured hippocampal cells undergoing mitosis in conjunction with increases in both neurite outgrowth and NGF production. The role of vitamin D(3) during brain development warrants closer scrutiny.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Jillanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Darryl W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Eyles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine