ABSTRACT
Background: Vitamin D receptors have been presented in the areas involved in learning and memory. This study was done to assess the effect of the vitamin D deficiency and calcitriol supplementation on spatial learning and memory
Materials and Methods: Twenty seven male rats were divided into three groups [n=9 for each]: receiving normal [Control], diminished vitamin D [C-D] and calcitriol supplement [C+D] regimens for 45 days. The animals were introduced to the Morris water maze [MWM] trials [4trials/day for 5 consecutive days]. The delay in finding and distance passed to reach the target platform were measured as spatial learning. The probe test was performed on the 5[th] day of experiment
Results: The C-D group needed a longer time to reach the platform than the control and C+D animals [P<0.0001], demonstrating that vitamin D deficiency negatively affected the maze learning. On the other hand, calcitriol supplementation did not significantly influence the spatial learning. The probe trial was not affected by either vitamin D deficiency or calcitriol supplementation
Conclusion: Although vitamin D deficiency deteriorates the maze learning it dose not affect the spatial memory consolidation. Also, calcitriol supplementation for 45 days is not effective in cognitive phenomena