Vitamin A and Retinoic Acid in Cognition and Cognitive Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta U. Wołoszynowska-Fraser ◽  
Azita Kouchmeshky ◽  
Peter McCaffery
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Retinoic Acid Receptors ◽  
Controlled Synthesis ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain

The history of vitamin A goes back over one hundred years, but our realization of its importance for the brain and cognition is much more recent. The brain is more efficient than other target tissues at converting vitamin A to retinoic acid (RA), which activates retinoic acid receptors (RARs). RARs regulate transcription, but their function in the cytoplasm to control nongenomic actions is also crucial. Controlled synthesis of RA is essential for regulating synaptic plasticity in regions of the brain involved in learning and memory, such as the hippocampus. Vitamin A deficiency results in a deterioration of these functions, and failure of RA signaling is perhaps associated with normal cognitive decline with age as well as with Alzheimer's disease. Further, several psychiatric and developmental disorders that disrupt cognition are also linked with vitamin A and point to their possible treatment with vitamin A or RA.

scholarly journals Triiodothyronine administration reverses vitamin A deficiency-related hypo-expression of retinoic acid and triiodothyronine nuclear receptors and of neurogranin in rat brain

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Husson ◽  
Valérie Enderlin ◽  
Serge Alfos ◽  
Catherine Féart ◽  
Paul Higueret ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Nuclear Receptors ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Neuronal Protein ◽  
Knowing That ◽  
The Brain

Recent studies have revealed that retinoids play an important role in the adult central nervous system and cognitive functions. Previous investigations in mice have shown that vitamin A deficiency (VAD) generates a hypo-expression of retinoic acid (RA, the active metabolite of vitamin A) receptors and of neurogranin (RC3, a neuronal protein involved in synaptic plasticity) and a concomitant selective behavioural impairment. Knowing that RC3 is both a triiodothyronine (T3) and a RA target gene, and in consideration of the relationships between the signalling pathways of retinoids and thyroid hormones, the involvement of T3 on RA signalling functionality in VAD was investigated. Thus, the effects of vitamin A depletion and subsequent administration with RA and/or T3 on the expression of RA nuclear receptors (RAR, RXR), T3 nuclear receptor (TR) and on RC3 in the brain were examined. Rats fed a vitamin A-deficient diet for 10 weeks exhibited a decreased expression of RAR, RXR and TR mRNA and of RC3 mRNA and proteins. RA administration to these vitamin A-deficient rats reversed only the RA hypo-signalling in the brain. Interestingly, T3 is able to restore its own brain signalling simultaneously with that of vitamin A and the hypo-expression of RC3. These results obtained in vivo revealed that one of the consequences of VAD is a dysfunction in the thyroid signalling pathway in the brain. This seems of crucial importance since the down regulation of RC3 observed in the depleted rats was corrected only by T3.

Effect of marginal vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy on retinoic acid receptors and NMDA receptor expression in the offspring of rats

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. S75-S75
Author(s):  
Xuan Zhang ◽  
Ting‑yu Li ◽  
Ke Chen ◽  
Jie Chen ◽  
You‑xue Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Retinoic Acid Receptors

Toluene-induced leukodystrophy from glue sniffing

2021 ◽  
pp. practneurol-2021-002942
Author(s):  
Yue Hui Lau ◽  
Ahmad Shahir Mawardi ◽  
Norzaini Rose Zain ◽  
Shanthi Viswanathan
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Cerebellar Atrophy ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain

A 33-year-old man with a history of chronic toluene abuse through glue sniffing, developed tremors, cerebellar signs and cognitive decline. MR scan of the brain showed global cerebral and cerebellar atrophy with symmetrical T2-weighted hypointensities in the basal ganglia, thalami and midbrain. After stopping glue sniffing, his tremors, ataxia of gait, speech and cognition partially improved. Early recognition and intervention of toluene-induced leukodystrophy could prevent ongoing morbidity and premature mortality.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document