Vitamin D and/or calcium deficient diets may differentially affect muscle fiber neuromuscular junction innervation.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that supports a role for Vitamin D (Vit. D) in muscle. The exact mechanism by which Vit. D deficiency impairs muscle strength and function is not clear. METHODS: Three-week-old mice were fed diets with varied combinations of Vit. D and Cadeficiency. Behavioral testing, genomic and protein analysis, and muscle histology were performed with a focus on neuromuscular junction (NMJ) -related genes. RESULTS: Vit. D and Cadeficient mice performed more poorly on given behavioral tasks than animals with Vit. D deficiency alone. Genomic and protein analysis of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles revealed changes in several Vit. D metabolic, NMJ-related, and protein chaperoning and refolding genes. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that detrimental effects of a Vit. D deficient or a Vit. D and Cadeficient diet may be a result of differential alterations in the structure and function of the NMJ and a lack of a sustained stress response in muscles. Muscle Nerve 54: 1120-1132, 2016.