EFFECTS OF MARGINAL VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY ON HIPPOCAMPAL CA1 LONG-TERM POTENTIATION IN YOUNG RATS / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the effects of marginal vitamin A deficiency (MVAD) on the hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP) in young rats. Methods:Six female rats were divided into two groups at random, three in MVAD group, three in control group. The rats were fed VA deficient diet (400IU VA/kg) and VA sufficient diet (6 500IU VA/kg) respectively since 3 w before coitus. Serum VA was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The young rats were killed at D49. The hippocampal CA1 LTP was detected by electrophysiological technique and the ultrastructure of synapses was observed by electron microscope. Results:The changes of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) slope (25.4%?2.01%) in MVAD young rats aged 7 weeks were much lower than that in control group (57.5%?8.63%). The changes of slope of fEPSP induced by MVAD in young rats could be replenished after adding retinoic acid (P0.05). The curvature in synaptic interface of MVAD group was less than that of the MVAD supplemented RA group and the control. Conclusion:MVAD during embryonic and early postnatal period can directly impair the hippocampal CA1 LTP of young rats.