Social behaviour in rats developmentally deficient in Vitamin D: modelling the negative symptoms of schizophrenia (2008-2012)
Abstract
We are exploring low maternal vitamin D as a biological explanation for a 7-10% increase in the incidence of patients born with schizophrenia in the colder months of the year worldwide. Developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency in rats leads to long term changes in brain development and behaviour. The aim of this research is to examine social behaviour in DVD deficient rates as a model of negative symptoms of schizophrenia and establish the neurochemical basis for this altered behaviour.
