Cortico-hippocampal morphology and behavioural indices improved in maternal deprivation model of schizophrenia following vitamin B complex supplementation

Abstract

Maternal deprivation (MD) during early life development has been documented to culminate in long-term alterations in brain function and behavioural manifestations that mimic schizophrenia. This study elucidated the putative neuroprotective roles of vitamin B complex in MD-induced behavioural and neurochemical modifications in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of Wistar rats. Rat pups were maternally deprived on postnatal day 9 for 24 hours and then treated with or without vitamin B complex for 15 days while a control group was undisturbed during the experimental period. The rats were then subjected to behavioural paradigms to measure memory indices and anxiety levels. The rats were sacrificed to obtain the PFC and hippocampus for histomorphological and biochemical analysis. Behavioural analysis of the animals revealed that MD induced a declination in long- and short-term memory in addition to anxiety-like behaviour in the open field test. Cortico-hippocampal histomorphology of these animals showed an increased astrocytic density and chromatolysis, which were accompanied by reduced levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes. Vitamin B complex mitigated MD-induced behavioural decline, histomorphological perturbation and oxidative stress by enhancing the intrinsic antioxidant defence, thereby culminating in nootropic behaviour and reduced anxiety. In conclusion, we confirmed the hypothesis that vitamin B complex is neuroprotective against neuropathological alterations induced by maternal deprivation.