Dietary Vitamin A Supplementation Alters Brain Metabolism and Networks Interactions in Mice

13‐ Cis ‐retinoic acid increases depression‐related behavior and disrupts functional connectivity between the raphe nuclei and hippocampus in mice. Hypervitaminosis A also induces psychosis. The current objective was to determine if dietary vitamin A supplementation alters brain metabolism and neuroanatomical networks. Female nude mice consumed either control (2,400 IU vitamin A/kg diet) or vitamin A‐supplemented (12,000 IU vitamin A/kg diet) diets ad libitum for 5 weeks prior to sacrifice. Cytochome oxidase (CO) histochemistry determined neuronal metabolism. Vitamin A supplementation decreased CO activity in the interpeduncular nucleus and subiculum. Covariant analysis of interregional correlations revealed that vitamin A supplementation caused a functional uncoupling between the ventral tegmental area and lateral habenula and the lateral septal nucleus and infralimbic cortex. Path analysis showed that a network consisting of the interpeduncular nucleus, medial and lateral habenuli and ventral tegmental area was effectively uncoupled in vitamin A‐supplemented mice. These data indicate that excess vitamin A consumption alters brain metabolism and networks. Sponsor: RoAccutane Research Group.