Vitamin A depletion alters sensitivity of motor behavior to MK-801 in C57BL/6J mice.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin A and its derivatives (retinoids) are crucial for the development, maintenance and morphogenesis of the central nervous system (CNS). Although motor impairment has been reported in postnatal vitamin A depletion rodents, the effect of vitamin A depletion on homeostasis maintaining capability in response to external interference is not clear.


METHODS
In the current study, we measured the effect of vitamin A depletion on motor ability and pain sensitivity under two different conditions: 1. prior to any injection and 2. after the injection of an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (MK-801).


RESULTS
Vitamin A depletion mice showed decreased body weight, enhanced locomotor activity, increased rearing and less tail flick latency. Vitamin A depletion also induced hypersensitivity of stereotypy, ataxia, rearing, and tail flick latency to MK-801, but hyposensitivity of locomotion to MK-801.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that vitamin A depletion affect broad basal behavior and disrupt homeostasis maintaining capability in response to glutamate perturbation. We provide a useful animal model for assessing the role of vitamin A depletion in regulating animal behavior, and for detecting how neurotransmitter pathways might be involved in vitamin A depletion related behavioral abnormalities.
Zhang
Ming
M
Bio-X Center, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, PR China.
Ji
Baohu
B
Zou
Hong
H
Shi
Junwei
J
Zhang
Zhao
Z
Li
Xingwang
X
Zhu
Hui
H
Feng
Guoyin
G
Jin
Meilei
M
Yu
Lei
L
He
Lin
L
Wan
Chunling
C
D000818:Animals; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D014801:Vitamin A; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate