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A history of iron deficiency anemia during infancy alters brain monoamine activity later in juvenile monkeys
Christopher L Coe1, Gabriele R Lubach, Laura Bianco
1Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 22 North Charter Street, Madison, WI 53715, USA. ccoe@wisc.edu
Insights
Iron deficiency in infants can impact brain development, affecting neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. These changes, particularly evident during recovery, may influence emotionality and behavior long-term.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Iron deficiency (ID) during infancy can affect neural processes crucial for brain development.
- Anemia in infants may lead to long-term neurological consequences.
- Understanding the impact of ID on the immature brain is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of iron deficiency on the developing brain in infant rhesus monkeys.
- To examine changes in monoamine neurotransmitter activity following a period of ID.
- To determine if ID impacts the developmental trajectory of neurotransmitter systems.
Main Methods:
- 49 infant rhesus monkeys were studied over their first year of life.
- Monkeys were fed a standardized low-iron diet, with 33.3% developing ID.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected to analyze monoamine neurotransmitter levels at different ages.
Main Results:
- Monoamine levels were normal at 4 and 8 months in both ID and iron-sufficient infants.
- By 1 year, formerly anemic monkeys showed significantly lower dopamine levels.
- Formerly anemic monkeys exhibited significantly higher norepinephrine levels at 1 year.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency affects the developmental trajectory of dopamine and norepinephrine systems.
- These neurotransmitter changes are linked to emotionality and behavioral performance.
- The impact of ID on the young monkey brain was most pronounced during the recovery phase.
Abstract:
Both during and after a period of iron deficiency (ID), iron-dependent neural processes are affected, which raises the potential concern that the anemia commonly experienced by many growing infants could have a protracted effect on the developing brain. To further investigate the effects of ID on the immature brain, 49 infant rhesus monkeys were evaluated across the first year of life. The mothers, and subsequently the infants after weaning, were maintained on a standardized diet containing 180 mg/kg of iron and were not provided other iron-rich foods as treats or supplements. As the infants grew, they were all screened with hematological tests, which documented that 16 (33.3%) became markedly ID between 4 and 8 months of age. During this anemic period and subsequently at 1 year of age, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected to compare monoamine activity in the ID and iron-sufficient infants. Monoamine neurotransmitters and metabolite levels were normal at 4 and 8 months of age, but by 1 year the formerly anemic monkeys had significantly lower dopamine and significantly higher norepinephrine levels. These findings indicate that ID can affect the developmental trajectory of these two important neurotransmitter systems, which are associated with emotionality and behavioral performance, and further that the impact in the young monkey was most evident during the period of recovery.
