Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated With Sex‐Dependent Alterations in Neurodevelopment‐Related Gene Expression, Particularly in the Hypothalamus
- 1Aix‐Marseille Univ INSERM INRAE C2VN Marseille France
- 2Laboratory of Physiology of Nutrition and Food, Safety Department of Biology Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences Oran 1 University Oran Algeria
- 3PhenoMARS Aix‐Marseille Technology Platform Marseille France
Abstract
Vitamin D (VD) is essential for calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism but also for brain development and function. However, few data are available on the impact of maternal VD deficiency (VDD) on sex‐specific brain development, particularly in specific structures such as hypothalamus. This study investigated the impact of maternal VDD on early brain development, neuronal and glial differentiation, and hypothalamic gene expression in mice. Maternal VDD was associated with increased mRNA expression of markers related to neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis in both sexes, while mRNA expression of astrocyte‐related markers remained largely unchanged. Male offspring exhibited broader transcriptomic alterations, including dysregulation of melanocortin‐pathway and synaptic signaling genes, in the hypothalamus of early postnatal and adult mice. Maternal VDD was associated with sex‐dependent changes in gene expression relevant to early brain development, with altered mRNA expression of markers involved in neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis in both sexes. Male offspring exhibited transcriptomic changes, including altered expression of melanocortin‐pathway and synaptic signaling genes, further suggesting greater susceptibility of hypothalamic gene expression to maternal VDD. These findings indicate that maternal VDD may influence neurodevelopmental gene expression during early life, potentially contributing to later alterations in synaptic function, metabolism, and behavior.
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BibTeX
@article{saidi2026maternal,
title = {{Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated With Sex‐Dependent Alterations in Neurodevelopment‐Related Gene Expression, Particularly in the Hypothalamus}},
author = {Lidia Saidi and Emmanuel Snacel‐Fazy and Eva Seipelt and Nicole Haroun and Julien Astier and Charlène Couturier and Mohamed El Soltani and Eric Sérée and Flavie Sicard and Habib Hammou and Michel Puceat and Jean‐François Landrier and Lourdes Mounien},
journal = {Molecular Nutrition \& Food Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/mnfr.70633},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70633},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated With Sex‐Dependent Alterations in Neurodevelopment‐Related Gene Expression, Particularly in the Hypothalamus
AU - Lidia Saidi
AU - Emmanuel Snacel‐Fazy
AU - Eva Seipelt
AU - Nicole Haroun
AU - Julien Astier
AU - Charlène Couturier
AU - Mohamed El Soltani
AU - Eric Sérée
AU - Flavie Sicard
AU - Habib Hammou
AU - Michel Puceat
AU - Jean‐François Landrier
AU - Lourdes Mounien
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
DO - 10.1002/mnfr.70633
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70633
AB - Vitamin D (VD) is essential for calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism but also for brain development and function. However, few data are available on the impact of maternal VD deficiency (VDD) on sex‐specific brain development, particularly in specific structures such as hypothalamus. This study investigated the impact of maternal VDD on early brain development, neuronal and glial differentiation, and hypothalamic gene expression in mice. Maternal VDD was associated with increased mRNA expression of markers related to neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis in both sexes, while mRNA expression of astrocyte‐related markers remained largely unchanged. Male offspring exhibited broader transcriptomic alterations, including dysregulation of melanocortin‐pathway and synaptic signaling genes, in the hypothalamus of early postnatal and adult mice. Maternal VDD was associated with sex‐dependent changes in gene expression relevant to early brain development, with altered mRNA expression of markers involved in neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis in both sexes. Male offspring exhibited transcriptomic changes, including altered expression of melanocortin‐pathway and synaptic signaling genes, further suggesting greater susceptibility of hypothalamic gene expression to maternal VDD. These findings indicate that maternal VDD may influence neurodevelopmental gene expression during early life, potentially contributing to later alterations in synaptic function, metabolism, and behavior.
SN - 1613-4125
SN - 1613-4133
ER -