Iron Deficiency in the Rat: Biochemical Studies of Brain Metabolism

Abstract

SummaryMitochondria were prepared from liver as described previStudies were performed to determine the effects of iron deficiency on brain metabolism in rats. Concentrations of cytochrome pigments, oxidative phosphorylation, and catalase and monoamine oxidase activities in brain tissue were unaffected by iron deficiency. However, activities of aldehyde oxidase, a key enzyme in the pathway of serotonin degradation, were significantlv reduced. and concentrations of serotonin and total 5-hydroxyindole compounds were elevated in brain tissue of irondeficient animals. Aldehyde oxidase activities and concentrations of 5-hydroxyindole compounds in brain tissues returned to approximately normal values one week after treatment of iron deficient animals with iron dextran. Speculation ously (13). ~i t o c h o n d i i a were prepared from brain as follows. After removal from the calvarium the brains (4-5 g total) were placed in 20 ml of a'solution (0-5") of 0.22 M mannitol, 0,08 M sucrose, 0.2 mM EDTA, and 5 mM Tris, pH 7.4 (MSET solution).. All subsequent procedures were carried out at 0-5". The brains were rapidly minced with a sharp scissors, rinsed one time with an additional 20 ml cold MSET solution, and suspended in 6 ml MSET solution/g tissue. The' suspension was gently homogenized at low speed in a motor-driven Teflon-glass homogenizer and 0.5 ml of a solution containing 1 mg Nagase, 1 mg bovine serum albumin (fraction V), and 5 mg KHCO,/ml was added16 ml suspension. The suspension was allowed to stand for 2 min in ice and was again gently homogenized in the Teflon-glass homogenizer. An equal volume of MSET solution was then added and the sus~ension was centrifuged in a refrigStates of h n deficiency may result in reduction of important erated centrifuge for lo at g.iron containing enzymes in brain tissue and altered brain metab-solution was quickly filtered through one layer of coarse cheeseolism. cloth and was recentrifuged at 10,000 x g for 10 min. The resulting pellet was gently resuspended in the original volume of MSET ioiution and-was-centrifuged for 10 min at 5,000 X g. Previously, we have shown that a limited running ability due The pellet was again suspended in the same volume of MSET to iron deficiency in rats results from decreased levels in skeletal solution and centrifuged for 10 min at 5,000 x g . The resulting muscle mitochondria of a-glycerophosphate oxidase, an iron-mitochondrial pellet was resuspended gently in a small volume containing enzyme which is a component of the terminal electron of MSET solution (1-1.5 ml) containing 1 mg bovine serum transport systems (11). Reports of other investigators, summa-(fraction V)/ml. rized in a recent review by Pollitt and Leibel (16) suggests that Homogenates were prepared from brain by mincing the iron deficiency may in addition adversely affect behavior and tissues with a scissors, rinsing once with cold MSET solution, learning in animals and man. Since the changes observed in and then homogenizing the suspension (iced) at top speed for 5 mental function ...

Interactions among iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the nutritionally iron‐deficient rat

“…Furthermore, as occurs in humans suffering from severe anaemia, there was an increase in the number of leucocytes and platelets, and also in the concentration of cortisol in serum. An explanation for the latter consequence may be deduced from the results of Youdim et al (1980), who found a reduction in the activity of monoaminooxidase (MAO) in iron-deficient rats, and of Mackler et al (1978), who reported a low level of aldehyde oxidase activity. These enzymatic changes produce an increase in the endogenous levels of circulating catecholamines, which are known to increase the release rate of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, which in turn produces an increase in the production of glucocorticoids Campos et al 1987).…”

Imipramine-lnduced Jitteriness and Decreased Serum Iron Levels

“…In the present study, the jitteriness-positive patients also had lower MCV and MCH, and this may indicate a relative hypoxic state which may intensify the acute adrenergic effects of TCA. Iron deficiency produces an increase in serotonin and its metabolites [8] and jitteriness may also be related to altered serotonin function. It is interesting to note that fluoxetine, a relatively selective serotonin up take blocker also produces jitteriness, restlessness, agita tion and insomnia in panic disorder patients [9], The importance of these findings is that the above indices may help to identify those panic disorder patients who are at a higher risk to develop jitteriness.…”

Experimental iron deficiency in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

“…Animal models, using rats, have been employed and biochemical studies of changes in heart (Blayney et al, 1976), brain (Mackler et al, 1978) and striated muscle (Finch et al, 1976) reported. However, little information is available on the oral mucosa, which usually shows marked atrophy under such conditions.…”