Scientists at the University of Queensland's Brain Institute have used molecular imaging technology to confirm the critical role maternal vitamin D levels play in the formation of brain cells responsible for the production of dopamine, a hormone that helps us " This discovery allows us to better understand the mechanisms that underlie neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, according to New Atlas..

It is believed that schizophrenia develops under the influence of genetic and environmental factors.. The exact mechanism behind this is not yet known, but there is strong evidence that these factors influence how the brain produces dopamine..

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Exposure to risk factors for schizophrenia during embryonic development is also thought to alter the way dopamine circuits form in the brain.. Previous research has shown that low maternal vitamin D levels are one such risk factor affecting how dopamine-producing neurons differentiate into their mature, specialized form..

In the course of the study, scientists created dopamine-like neurons to reproduce the process of differentiation during embryonic development.. Neurons were cultured with and without the hormone calcitriol..

Dietary vitamin D is inactive until it undergoes two reactions in the body, one of which occurs in the kidneys, where it is converted to calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D.. Calcitriol binds to the vitamin D receptor and activates it in the cell nucleus..

Researchers have found that vitamin D affects not only cell differentiation, but also the structure of neurons..

Using a new imaging tool called false fluorescent neurotransmitters (FFN), the researchers were able to analyze how dopamine uptake and release changed in the presence or absence of calcitriol.. They found that dopamine release increased in neurons that were grown in the presence of calcitriol..

Important! This publication is based on the latest and current scientific research in the field of medicine and is for general information purposes only.. Publication cannot be the basis for making any diagnoses. If you are ill or need a diagnosis, see your doctor!