Open Access

Insights into the role of iron in immature rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

  • Authors:
    • Zi‑Wei Wang
    • Li‑Jun Yang
    • Ying‑Xue Ding
    • Yan‑Zhong Chang
    • Hong Cui
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 26, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3550
  • Pages: 1723-1731
  • Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the role of iron in the occurrence and development of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in immature rat models using 3-day-old Sprague Dawley rats. Normal control (NC), hypoxic-ischemic (HI), anemia, HI + ischemia, early iron treatment and late iron treatment groups were established. Rat brain tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and pathologically evaluated. Iron content and mRNA expression levels of iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) and transferrin receptor in the brain tissues were measured. Ultrastructural changes in the actin, microtubules, myelin and mitochondria of oligodendrocytes and axons were examined by electron microscopy. Numbers of viable myelin sheaths and oligodendrocytes in the periventricular area were also observed. Pathological damage of brain tissue in the HI group was markedly increased compared with that in the NC group. Furthermore, there was a higher iron content and reduced number of viable oligodendrocytes in the periventricular area of the HI group compared with the NC group. No significant difference in iron content was observed between the HI + anemia and NC groups. The number of viable oligodendrocytes in the HI + anemia group was increased compared with that in the HI group, and the number in the HI + anemia group with late iron treatment was lower compared with that in the NC group and increased compared with that in the HI + anemia group. Electron microscopy revealed a significantly higher number of myelin sheaths in the HI + anemia group than in the HI group. IRP2 mRNA expression levels in the brain tissues were significantly decreased in the HI + anemia group compared with the HI group. The results suggest that anemia may reduce the rate of increase of iron content of the brain following HI. However, the early occurrence of anemia may protect against HIBI.
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September-2016
Volume 12 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Wang ZW, Yang LJ, Ding YX, Chang YZ and Cui H: Insights into the role of iron in immature rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Exp Ther Med 12: 1723-1731, 2016
APA
Wang, Z., Yang, L., Ding, Y., Chang, Y., & Cui, H. (2016). Insights into the role of iron in immature rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 12, 1723-1731. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3550
MLA
Wang, Z., Yang, L., Ding, Y., Chang, Y., Cui, H."Insights into the role of iron in immature rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12.3 (2016): 1723-1731.
Chicago
Wang, Z., Yang, L., Ding, Y., Chang, Y., Cui, H."Insights into the role of iron in immature rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12, no. 3 (2016): 1723-1731. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3550