Functional Implication of the Vitamin A Signaling Pathway in the Brain

Abstract

Vitamin A is necessary for normal embryonic development, but its role in the adult brain is poorly understood. Vitamin A derivatives, retinoids, are involved in a complex signaling pathway that regulates gene expression and, in the central nervous system, controls neuronal differentiation and neural tube patterning. Although a major functional implication of retinoic signaling has been repeatedly suggested in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, sleep, schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease, the targets and the underlying mechanisms in the adult brain remain elusive.

Retinoic Acid Isomers Facilitate Apolipoprotein E Production and Lipidation in Astrocytes through the Retinoid X Receptor/Retinoic Acid Receptor Pathway

“…In the CNS, they are also known to regulate neuronal patterning, differentiation, axonal outgrowth, nerve regeneration, and neuronal plasticity (42,43). The deprivation of vitamin A was shown to disturb hippocampal long term potentiation in rats (44).…”

Vitamine A et vieillissement cérébral

“…Des etudes recentes rapportent que les retinoïdes jouent egalement un rôle important dans le systeme nerveux central adulte (Lane et Bailey, 2005 ;Bremner et McCaffery, 2007 ;Tafti et Ghyselinck, 2007) en particulier dans des regions ou la plasticite neuronale est tres importante, i.e. l'hippocampe, le cortex prefrontal median ainsi que les regions retrospleniales.…”

Micronutrients and neurodevelopment: An update

“…Retinoids are implied in synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and sleep. 31 These are essential molecules for sight, normal embryonic development, and control of cell growth, differentiation, and death. 32 N i g h t b l i n d n e s s , a n e m i a , a n d immunodeficiency are the main consequences of vitamin A deficiency.…”