University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Iron deficiency affects spatial learning in neonatal piglets

Rytych, Jennifer

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Rytych_Jennifer.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/31014

Description

Title
Iron deficiency affects spatial learning in neonatal piglets
Author(s)
Rytych, Jennifer
Issue Date
2012-05-22T00:21:39Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Johnson, Rodney W.
Department of Study
Nutritional Sciences
Discipline
Nutritional Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2012-05-22T00:21:39Z
Keyword(s)
  • iron deficiency
  • hippocampus
  • spatial learning
  • swine
  • neonatal
  • colorimeter
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)
Abstract
Iron deficiency is the most commonly reported nutritional deficiency in the world and has been linked to cognitive impairments in children. Our aim was to assess the impact of iron deficiency on cognition using neonatal piglets as a model for human infants, as neurodevelopment in piglets resembles that of humans. Piglets were fed one of three diets with varying concentrations of iron (Fe): adequate (6.3mg Fe/kg body weight [BW]), mildly deficient (1.5mg Fe/kg BW), or severely deficient (0.63 mg Fe/kg BW). Piglets were placed on the diet at two days of age for four weeks. On days 7, 14,21, and 28 hemoglobin (P = 0.0360) levels were reduced in piglets fed deficient diets. Skin pigmentation, as measured by a colorimeter in L*a*b* color space, showed reduced magenta color in the iron deficient piglets (P < 0.0001), correlating with hematocrit levels (R2 = 0.76). The effect of iron deficiency on cognition was assessed using a hippocampal-dependent spatial T-maze task. Severely deficient piglets were unable to acquire the task (P = 0.3937), while mildly deficient piglets had lower performance when the reward location was reversed than those on the adequate diet (P = 0.0321). This behavioral deficit was mirrored by a decrease in iron concentration in the hippocampus, but not the prefrontal cortex. Gene expression of several neurotrophic factors and proinflammatory cytokines, as well as whole-brain and hippocampal volume, were not affected.
Graduation Semester
2012-05
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31014
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2012 Jennifer Rytych

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Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Nutritional Sciences