1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors in the central nervous system of the rat embryo

Timothy D. Veenstra, Kirsten Prüfer, Carol Koenigsberger, Stephen W. Brimijoin, Joseph P. Grande, Rajiv Kumar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

129 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have mapped areas within the central nervous system (CNS) of the developing fetal rat which immunostain for the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (VDR). The VDR was detected from days 12 to 21 of gestation throughout the CNS; immunostaining was particularly intense in the neuroepithelium and within the differentiating fields of various areas of the brain. Cells within the spinal cord, dorsal root, and other ganglia exhibited positive staining for the VDR. The intensity of staining for the VDR diminished or disappeared in the neuroepithelium throughout the CNS during the later days of development, while in the differentiating fields single VDR immunoreactive cells were observed. The presence of the VDR in the CNS was confirmed by in situ hybridization and RNA-based polymerase chain reaction methods with di-deoxy sequencing of the resultant DNA product. These results support the hypothesis that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, through interactions with the VDR, may play a role in the development of the CNS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)193-205
Number of pages13
JournalBrain Research
Volume804
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 7 1998

Keywords

  • 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D receptor
  • Central nervous SYstem
  • Development
  • Fetal
  • Rat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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