title: Combined therapy of iron chelator and antioxidant completely restores brain dysfunction induced by iron toxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Excessive iron accumulation leads to iron toxicity in the brain; however the underlying mechanism is unclear. We investigated the effects of iron overload induced by high iron-diet consumption on brain mitochondrial function, brain synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Iron chelator (deferiprone) and antioxidant (n-acetyl cysteine) effects on iron-overload brains were also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were fed either normal diet or high iron-diet consumption for 12 weeks, after which rats in each diet group were treated with vehicle or deferiprone (50 mg/kg) or n-acetyl cysteine (100 mg/kg) or both for another 4 weeks. High iron-diet consumption caused brain iron accumulation, brain mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired brain synaptic plasticity and cognition, blood-brain-barrier breakdown, and brain apoptosis. Although both iron chelator and antioxidant attenuated these deleterious effects, combined therapy provided more robust results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, this is the first study demonstrating that combined iron chelator and anti-oxidant therapy completely restored brain function impaired by iron overload.
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jirapas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sripetchwandee
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Noppamas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pipatpiboon
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nipon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chattipakorn
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand ; Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siriporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattipakorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D007501:Iron