1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 sites of action in spinal cord and sensory ganglion

Abstract

Autoradiographic studies revealed concentration of 3H 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in nuclei of certain neurons in the spinal cord of adult and neonatal mice, fed a normal or a vitamin D deficient diet. Nuclear uptake and retention was strongest in motor neurons in lamina IX. Nuclear concentration also existed in neurons of lamina II, lamina VIII, lamina X and intermediate nucleus of the lateral column. The results indicate that these neurons are target neurons which contain nuclear receptors for 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3. This suggests that 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 has direct genomic actions on the innervation of skeletal muscle by exerting related trophic, secretory, and electrophysiological effects. In addition, these data point to direct genomic actions of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 on spinal sensory perception, and on certain autonomic functions. Nuclear binding in certain neurons in the peripheral ganglion of the trigeminal nerve further suggests that sensory perception is influenced by 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 not only at the level of the substantia gelatinosa, but also at the level of spinal ganglia.

Vitamin D and neurocognitive dysfunction: Preventing “D”ecline?

“…Animal studies revealed the presence of VDR in the neuroepithelium during early neurogenesis, and in later stages, in an area involved in the maintenance of neural stem cells, the subventricular zone (Veenstra 1998). More recent animal data confirm the expression of VDR in specific brain regions, including but not limited to, the temporal lobe, cingulate cortices, thalamus, cerebellum, amygdala and hippocampal regions (Clemens, Garrett et al 1988;Stumpf, Clark et al 1988;Prufer, Veenstra et al 1999;Langub, Herman et al 2001;Garcion, Wion-Barbot et al 2002;Eyles, Brown et al 2003;McGrath, Feron et al 2004). …”

Vitamin D3 Confers Protection from Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Only in Female Mice

“…Additional experiments are underway to define more precisely how 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 inhibits EAE. The nuclear VDR is expressed in the CNS (40,41), and the 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 performs a variety of neuroprotective functions that reduce CNS damage and motor function loss. The VDR was detected in the hippocampus (neurons and astrocytes), where it appeared to support hippocampal cell survival (42), and in brain regions involved in memory and cognition, implicating 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 in memory processing (43).…”

Analysis of oxysterols and vitamin D metabolites in mouse brain and cell line samples by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization–mass spectrometry

“…Since the identification criteria were fulfilled in both analyses, the detection of 25-OH-D 3 in mouse brain samples was confirmed with a relatively high reliability although the ion chromatograms are quite noisy. As far as we know, vitamin D metabolites have not been found in brain earlier, although the receptor for vitamin D has already been identified in the brain over three decades ago [38][39][40][41][42].…”