title: Impairment of emotional behavior and spatial learning in adult Wistar rats by ferrous sulfate.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of FeSO(4) on the behavior of adult Wistar rats. Rats were treated with moderate doses of iron (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days, and the effects of iron supplementation on emotional behavior were studied. One group of rats was tested in elevated plus-maze and in open field, and other group was tested for learning abilities in water maze and for motor skills in rotarod task. Iron level in the brain was measured in the frontal cortex, cerebellum, basal ganglia and hippocampus. The effects of the iron treatment (in particular, a dose of 3.0 mg/kg) on emotional behavior in the elevated plus maze and in the open field were significant. The effects of iron on spatial learning were less pronounced, but significant impairments due to the treatment were observed during the probe test. Motor skills and procedural learning in the rotarod task were not significantly affected by the treatment. These behavioral impairments were associated with significant iron accumulations in the hippocampus and basal ganglia of rats treated with 3.0 mg/kg iron and are discussed in terms of possible neuronal impairments of these structures. Thus, FeSO(4) administration at 3.0 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days in adult rats overcomes the mechanisms that shield the brain from iron intoxication and leads to behavioral impairments, in particular with respect to emotional behavior.
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Laboratoire de Physiologie Intégrée, 7021 Jarzouna, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maaroufi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammari
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeljeli
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakly
authors.forename: Hafedh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdelmelek
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D007501:Iron