Investigation of the effects of treadmill exercise before and during pregnancy and vitamin D administration on pregnant rats with vitamin D deficiency on depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors, protein expression of vitamin D receptor and BDNF in the prefrontal cortex of male offspring

Abstract

Maternal vitamin D deficiency and sedentary lifestyle are associated with various neurological and metabolic disorders in offspring. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D and treadmill exercise on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors and changes in protein levels of BDNF and vitamin D receptor in the prefrontal cortex of adult male offspring in vitamin D-deficient (VDD)-fed dams. Methods: Forty, female Wistar rats, three-week-old, were randomly divided into two groups: control and VDD groups and fed standard diet (SD) containing vitamin D or VDD for six weeks. After confirming the induction of VDD model, the animals were divided into 5 groups: Control group (received SD until the end of lactation), VDD group (received VDD until the end of lactation), VDD + SD group (received SD from one week before pregnancy to the end of lactation), VDD+E group (received VDD from one week before pregnancy to the end of lactation and exercised on treadmill from one week before pregnancy to gestational day 20), and VDD+E+SD (combined recipient of SD and treadmill exercise). Male offspring were separated on postnatal day 21 (PND) and received SD until PND90. Anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors were assessed in adult male offspring from PND90 to PND 93. The protein expressions of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and BDNF were measured in the prefrontal cortex using Western blotting. Results: Compared to the VDD animal, vitamin D supplementation and treadmill exercise increased open arms entries and open arms time in the EPM and increased center time, number of center entrance, and rearing, while decreased grooming in the OFT. Moreover, these treatments decreased immobility time in the FST. These behavioral improvements were associated with increased protein expressions of BDNF and VDR in the prefrontal cortex.