Maternal vitamin C deficiency during pregnancy persistently impairs hippocampal neurogenesis in offspring of guinea pigs

Pernille Tveden-Nyborg, Lucile Vogt, Janne Gram Schjoldager, Natalie Jeannet, Stine Hasselholt Andersen, Maya Devi Paidi, Stephan Christen, Jens Lykkesfeldt

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

While having the highest vitamin C (VitC) concentrations in the body, specific functions of VitC in the brain have only recently been acknowledged. We have shown that postnatal VitC deficiency in guinea pigs causes impairment of hippocampal memory function and leads to 30% less neurons. This study investigates how prenatal VitC deficiency affects postnatal hippocampal development and if any such effect can be reversed by postnatal VitC repletion. Eighty pregnant Dunkin Hartley guinea pig dams were randomized into weight stratified groups receiving High (900 mg) or Low (100 mg) VitC per kg diet. Newborn pups (n = 157) were randomized into a total of four postnatal feeding regimens: High/High (Control); High/Low (Depleted), Low/Low (Deficient); and Low/High (Repleted). Proliferation and migration of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus was assessed by BrdU labeling and hippocampal volumes were determined by stereology. Prenatal VitC deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in postnatal hippocampal volume (P
Original languageEnglish
JournalP L o S One
Volume7
Issue number10
Number of pages9
ISSN1932-6203
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Oct 2012

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Maternal vitamin C deficiency during pregnancy persistently impairs hippocampal neurogenesis in offspring of guinea pigs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this