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Dietary iron deficiency in BXD strain 40 mice causes diurnal‐dependent alterations in brain iron and activity
Author(s) -
Unger Erica L,
Konrad Denise M,
Bianco Laura E,
Rundle Sarah E,
Jones Byron C,
Beard John L
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a163-d
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , midbrain , endocrinology , medicine , nucleus accumbens , iron deficiency , dopamine , striatum , biology , anemia , central nervous system
Brain iron insufficiency alters dopaminergic functioning and impairs motor and sensory skills in several species. To explore mechanisms through which genetic variances in ventral midbrain iron affect dopaminergic function and dopamine‐related behaviors, 30 strains of the BXD/Ty RI panel were previously analyzed for ventral midbrain iron content. In this study, strain 40 mice were utilized based on their midrange ventral midbrain iron levels. Mice were challenged with control or iron restricted diets from postnatal day 21 to 120 and then peripheral iron measures, brain iron, dopaminergic parameters and behavior were assessed during the active (dark) and inactive (light) phases of the diurnal cycle. At day 120, hemoglobin and hematocrit and spleen and liver iron were reduced in male and female iron deficient mice compared to control, but females were less sensitive to dietary iron restriction. During the inactive phase, male and female iron deficient mice showed lower iron levels in ventral midbrain, nucleus accumbens and striatum. In contrast, brain iron levels were similar across groups during the active phase. Telemetry studies indicate that iron deficiency also reduces activity during the active phase and increases period length. These results suggest that dietary iron deficiency in BXD strain 40 mice produces diurnal‐dependent alterations in brain iron in dopaminergic regions and in locomotor activity.