EFFECTS OF VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING AND MEMORY IN YOUNG RATS / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the effects of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) on brain development, learning and memory ability in young rats. Methods: A model of VAD in female rats and the offsprings were established. The growth and development, learning and memory ability, protein content, cell proliferative cycle of cortex and hippocampus, and hippocampus cell ultrastructure changes under electron microscopy of young rats were detected. Results: (1) The weights gain in VAD rats were decreased compared with the control. (2) The learning and memory scores in VAD rats was significantly lower than those of the control. (3) The protein content of cortex and hippocampus in VAD rats were significantly lower than those of the control. (4) The cell proliferative index (PI) of cortex and hippocampus in VAD rats were higher than those of the control. (5) The synapses between hippocampus pyramidal cells and the small bubbles in synapses in VAD rats were significantly decreased compared with the control. The astrocytes of hippocampus in VAD rats were significantly increased. Degeneration was observed in many astrocytes in VAD rats. Conclusion: VAD can affect the brain development and the ability of learning and memory in young rats.