Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: Folate, also known as Vitamin B9, is a water-soluble nutrient present in natural food sources. It plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis and repair, as well as in methylation reactions. Folic acid (FA) is the synthetic form of folate found in enriched foods and supplements. The effects of folate deficiency after birth have not been extensively studied. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNAs that play essential roles in regulating gene expression. In recent years, miRNAs have been associated with various aspects of brain development, including neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon and dendrite formation, and synaptogenesis. Additionally, altered expression and dysregulation of miRNAs have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Methionine synthase (Mtr) is involved in amino acid metabolism and is responsible for converting the amino acid homocysteine to methionine. Mtr is crucial for brain development and is associated with myelin content. This project aimed to investigate the impact of maternal FA supplementation during pregnancy on the expression of mmu-miR-103-1-5p and Mtr in the cerebral cortex of mouse pups.
Materials and Methods: A total of 45 pregnant mice were divided into three groups, with 15 mice in each group. The first and second groups received FA at doses of 2 and 40 mg/kg of body weight daily by gavage throughout their entire pregnancy, respectively. The third group did not receive FA and served as the control. Subsequently, the cerebral cortex of the offspring was collected immediately after birth for the analysis of mmu-miR-103-1-5p and Mtr expression using real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism software.
Results: In the FA-treated group, the expression of mmu-miR-103-1-5p at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight was 0.46±0.01, and at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight, it was 0.27±0.02, whereas in the control group, it was 1.0007±0.03. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in mmu-miR-103-1-5p expression at both the 2 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg doses compared to the controls (p