Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is one of the prime nutritional problem globally. Low levels of vitamin D have been shown to correlate with obesity and dyslipidemia, but the mechanism(s) of these effects has not been well studied. Angiopoietin like proteins (ANGPTLs) are a group of proteins known to be involved in lipid metabolism by affecting the lipoprotein lipase activity. A few studies in adults have indicated that vitamin D deficiency regulates ANGPTL3,4 and 8 secretion but the effects of developmental vitamin D deficiency (DVDD) has not been well investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of DVDD on ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 levels in rat pups. Wistar rat pups were made vitamin D deficient at different developmental stages, namely during gestation (dG group), during lactation (dL group) and during gestation and lactation (dGL group). Liver tissues and serum samples from control (C) and the three DVDD groups were used in this study. Gene expression of ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 in liver tissues were analyzed by RT-PCR, whereas levels of ANGPTL3 and 4 in serum samples were assessed by using sandwich ELISA. One way ANOVA test revealed that gene expression of ANGPTL3 in dGL and dL groups were significantly increased (plt;0.05) compared to control and dG groups. However, gene expression of ANGPTL4 in dGL and dG were significantly decreased (plt;0.05) compared to control and dG groups. In addition, gene expression of ANGPTL8 was significantly increased in the dGL group, compared to control (plt;0.01). The levels of ANGPTL3 in serum samples showed a significant increase in dGL groups only compared to control (plt;0.05) whereas levels of ANGPTL4 were significantly decreased in dL and dGL groups compared to control (plt;0.01). These results suggest that combined prenatal and postnatal vitamin D deficiency in rat pups increase the levels of ANGPTL3 and 8 and decrease expression of ANGPTL4. The modulations of these ANGPLs due to vitamin D deficiency may be involved in dyslipidemia and its subsequent health effects. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms of ANGPTLs-modulating effects of vitamin D.
