title: Effect of early iron deficiency in rat on the gamma-aminobutyric acid shunt in brain.
abstract: Early iron deficiency in rat does not affect the weight or the protein, DNA, and RNA content but results in a slight reduction in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (13%, p less than 0.01) and glutamic acid (20%, p less than 0.001) content of the brain. The activities of the two GABA shunt enzymes, glutamate dehydrogenase and GABA-transaminase, and of the NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) were inhibited whereas the glutamic acid decarboxylase, mitochondrial NADP+-linked ICDH, and succinic dehydrogenase activities remained unaltered in brain. On rehabilitation with the iron-supplemented diet for 1 week, these decreased enzyme activities in brain attained the corresponding control values. However, the hepatic nonheme iron content increased to about 80% of the control, after rehabilitation for 2 weeks. A prolonged iron deficiency resulting in decreased levels of glutamate and GABA may lead to endocrinological, neurological, and behavioral alterations.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Taneja
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000032:analysis; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006418:Heme / Q000032:analysis; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006418:Heme; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase