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Iron deprivation during fetal development changes the behavior of juvenile rhesus monkeys
Mari S Golub1, Casey E Hogrefe, Stacey L Germann
1Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. msgolub@ucdavis.edu
Insights
Developmental iron deficiency in infant rhesus monkeys, particularly prenatal, impaired inhibitory control. This suggests prenatal iron impacts behavior, potentially influencing temperament and childhood disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Developmental iron deficiency is a global health concern.
- Sensitive periods for iron's impact on brain development are not fully understood.
- Nonhuman primate models offer insights into human developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sensitive periods for behavioral impairments caused by developmental iron deficiency.
- To assess the long-term cognitive and behavioral effects of prenatal and postnatal iron deprivation.
Main Methods:
- Rhesus monkey infants were subjected to prenatal or postnatal iron deficiency.
- Cognitive tests and activity monitoring were conducted from 6 to 12 months of age.
- Hematological status, growth, and brain imaging were assessed.
Main Results:
- Prenatal iron deficiency in males led to reduced spontaneous daytime activity.
- Prenatally iron-deprived juveniles showed altered cognitive test performance, including shorter latencies.
- Postnatal iron deficiency showed similar but less pronounced behavioral changes.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal iron deficiency significantly impacts inhibitory control during the juvenile period.
- Developmental iron deficiency, especially during pregnancy, has lasting behavioral consequences.
- Findings may inform understanding of temperament and behavioral disorders in children.
Abstract:
Sensitive periods for induction of behavioral impairments by developmental iron deficiency were studied in a nonhuman primate model. Rhesus monkey infants were deprived of iron prenatally (n = 14) via the dam's diet (10 microg Fe/g) or postnatally (birth-4 mo, n = 12) via infant formula (1.5 mg Fe/L). They were compared with controls (n = 12) with adequate dietary iron throughout development in a series of cognitive tests and related assessments from 6 to 12 mo of age, a developmental stage corresponding approximately to 2-4 y of age in humans. Health, growth, and hematological status were not affected. Auditory brainstem response and white matter volumes in the cerebrum were similarly unaffected. Male infants in the prenatally deprived group had reduced spontaneous daytime activity relative to controls, as monitored by actimeter. On cognitive tests, prenatally deprived juveniles had similar level of correct responding, but showed more completed trials, and shorter latencies during early phases of the tests. Juveniles deprived of iron as infants showed a similar pattern of behavioral change, but most differences from controls were not as great. Inadequate iron nutrition during pregnancy was reflected in the juvenile period primarily as attenuated inhibitory response. This finding may be relevant to individual differences in temperament or to behavior disorders in children involving reduced inhibitory control.
