TY - JOUR
T1 - Neophobia, sensory and cognitive functions, and hedonic responses in vitamin D receptor mutant mice
AU - Minasyan, Anna
AU - Keisala, Tiina
AU - Lou, Yan Ru
AU - Kalueff, Allan V.
AU - Tuohimaa, Pentti
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Vitamin D is a seco-steroid hormone with multiple actions in the brain, mediated through the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR). We have recently shown that mutant mice lacking functional VDR demonstrate altered emotional behavior and specific motor deficits. Here we further examine phenotype of these mice, testing their novelty responses, as well as cognitive and sensory (olfactory and gustatory) functions in the novel food, two-trial Y-maze and tastant consumption tests. In addition, we study depression-like behavior in these mice, using anhedonia-based sucrose preference test. Overall, VDR mutant mice showed neophobic response in several different tests, but displayed unimpaired olfactory and gustatory functions, spatial memory and baseline hedonic responses. Collectively, these data confirm that mutation of VDR in mice leads to altering emotional/anxiety states, but does not play a major role in depression, as well as in the regulation of some sensory and cognitive processes. These results support the role of the vitamin D/VDR neuroendocrine system in the regulation of behavior, and may have clinical relevance, enabling a better focus on psychiatric and behavioral disorders associated with dysfunctions in this neuroendocrine system.
AB - Vitamin D is a seco-steroid hormone with multiple actions in the brain, mediated through the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR). We have recently shown that mutant mice lacking functional VDR demonstrate altered emotional behavior and specific motor deficits. Here we further examine phenotype of these mice, testing their novelty responses, as well as cognitive and sensory (olfactory and gustatory) functions in the novel food, two-trial Y-maze and tastant consumption tests. In addition, we study depression-like behavior in these mice, using anhedonia-based sucrose preference test. Overall, VDR mutant mice showed neophobic response in several different tests, but displayed unimpaired olfactory and gustatory functions, spatial memory and baseline hedonic responses. Collectively, these data confirm that mutation of VDR in mice leads to altering emotional/anxiety states, but does not play a major role in depression, as well as in the regulation of some sensory and cognitive processes. These results support the role of the vitamin D/VDR neuroendocrine system in the regulation of behavior, and may have clinical relevance, enabling a better focus on psychiatric and behavioral disorders associated with dysfunctions in this neuroendocrine system.
KW - Anhedonia and depression
KW - Gustation
KW - Neophobia
KW - Olfaction
KW - Spatial memory
KW - Vitamin D receptor
KW - Y-maze
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34249985242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2007.03.032
DO - 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2007.03.032
M3 - Article
C2 - 17482806
AN - SCOPUS:34249985242
SN - 0960-0760
VL - 104
SP - 274
EP - 280
JO - Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF - Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
IS - 3-5
ER -