Study the Role of Vitamin D on Some Brain Degenerative Disorders in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D, a steroid hormone that plays an important role in bone and calcium metabolism, now is known it has different beneficial functions and actions on various tissues and cell types. There are evidences that vitamin D implies some functions in the central nervous system as a neurosteroid hormone. Aim: Study the role of vitamin D on aluminum chloride (AlCl3) induced brain degeneration in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on 50 adult male Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into three groups: Group I (Control group) received normal saline followed by corn oil. Group II (AlCl3 treated group) received AlCl3 followed by corn oil. Group III (VD3 treated group): subdivided into Group IIIa received VD3 followed by both AlCl3 and VD3. Group IIIb: received AlCl3 followed by VD3. Behavioral tests were done. Brain tissue acetylcholinesterase activity, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase were assessed. Results: The results revealed that in AlCl3 treated group, there was a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase level and glutathione peroxidase and a significant increase in malondialdehyde compared to the control group and significant increase in acetylcholinesterase level and glutathione peroxidase, and a significant decrease in malondialdehyde in VD3 treated group compared to AlCl3 treated group; there was also improvement in behavioral parameters inVD3 treated group compared to AlCl3 treated group. Conclusion: We concluded that either the protective or the therapeutic effect of vitamin D produced significant improvement in motor impairment, learning, and memory. Keywords