Early Iron Deficiency Alters Neurotransmitter Levels and Locomotor Behavior in Pre‐ and Post‐Weaning Rats

Abstract

Iron deficiency in utero and early postnatal life has been shown to alter neurobehavioral development in several species. This study addressed the question of whether early dietary iron deficiency changes neurotransmitter levels and behavior in pre- and postweaning rats. Rats were subjected to one of five iron dietary treatments: 1) iron sufficient through gestation and lactation; 2) iron deficient beginning on G15; 3) iron deficient beginning on P4; 4) iron deficient beginning on G15 followed by an iron sufficient on P4; 5) iron deficient beginning on G15 followed by iron dextran injection on P4. In G15 iron deficient rats, dopamine levels were elevated on P15 and P21 in ventral midbrain and on P15 in striatum, but were unaltered in P4 iron deficient rats and iron replete groups at the same ages. By P65, brain iron and dopamine levels were reduced in ventral midbrain in both groups of iron deficient rats compared to control. Behaviorally, locomotor activity was similar across the five treatment groups on P9, P15 and P21. Stereotypy scores were decreased at P21 in G15 iron deficient rats only. By P65, G15 and P4 iron deficient rats displayed reduced activity and stereotypy, whereas iron replete groups were similar to control. Longitudinal telemetry studies also indicated an overall reduction in activity in G15 iron deficient rats during the dark phase. These results suggest that iron deficiency in utero and during lactation is associated with altered brain iron content, neurotransmitter levels and activity pre- and post-weaning.