@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2228-5468    Education Strategies in Medical Sciences 2015;7(6):377-380

Background
… [1] Spatial memory depends on Hippocampus networking activity. As an important part in the vertebrates’ brain, Hippocampus plays an important role in the stabilization of information of short-term memory in long-term memory and spatial positioning [2]. Iron is a necessary element for the Hippocampus cells [3]. … [4-8] Iron deficiency in the brain might lead to cognitive and behavioral adverse changes [9].
Previous Studies
The effects of Iron deficiency on the structural and biochemical changes in the Hippocampus growth of the rats have been shown. The effects of Iron supplement on memory and cognition has been studied. In some studies, the effects of Iron supplement on cognition have been inferred especially in the anemia condition [10, 11]. Some other studies have shown no effects of Iron supplement on cognition [12-14]. The effects of different amounts of Iron consumption on the cognitive characteristics and especially on the spatial memory have not yet been studied. … [15, 16]
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extra iron supplement on the spatial memory of the young rats.
Research type
This is an experimental study.
Research society, place and time
160-180g male Wistar rats from Animal Home of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, were studied in the university.
Sampling method and number
20 rats were selected randomly.
Used devices&materials
The animal keeping conditions were 12-hour sleep and awakening cycle (7a.m.; 7p.m.), free access to water and food, and uniform temperature during the study. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups, each of which had 5 rats. The groups were ‘control group’ (fed with normal bread), ‘group fed with enriched bread with twice iron’, ‘group fed with enriched bread with quadruple iron’, and ‘group fed with enriched bread with six-fold iron’. Rate of iron consumption was determined based on the previous studies and the common method. Vitamin and mineral supplements and non-fat infant formula were constantly used in different groups to remove food deficiency of the rats. Both fixed and recommended folic acid ratios were added to the ration of groups fed by iron. Wheat flour was enriched by Iron Sulfate and 3.5mg per 100g nutritional needs of the rats. Feeding period of the rats were 4 weeks. Body weights of the rats were measured two times a week and feed efficiency ratio (FER) was computed. Changes related to the samples included copper, zinc, manganese, and iron measurements in serum and stool and measurements of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and ferritin. Weighting was done at the beginning and at the end of the period to identify control level and excretion rate of the consumed iron and to control weight change. The samples were exposed to the supplementary materials for 4 weeks. Keeping conditions were the same for all groups. Measurement tools were a scale and T-maze (to measure spatial memory). Performed in two general stages, the spatial memory tests were done based on 2-week period protocols. Firstly, in the training stage, every rat attempted to identify the target arm in 20 attempts and with reward factor. Secondly, in the dark stage, every rat began to move in the arms after 10 repetitions and without any reward motivation. Error number and validity time were recorded at the end of the stages [17]. 4 rats of different groups were died during experiments. Therefore, 16 rats in four groups were studied. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21 software. At first, normality of the data was determined using skewness in each group to compare the groups and to observe the parametric tests preconditions. Then, data was analyzed using One-way ANOVA; and a significant difference between groups having been noticed, Tukey post-hoc test was done
Findings by Text
There was no significant difference in the validity time between the groups. In this case, “twice iron’ (1.9±0.5min), ‘quadruple iron’ (9.6±8.9min), and ‘six-fold iron’ (5.8±3.1min) groups significantly showed lesser maze passing time than ‘control group’ (12.6±1.7min). There was significant difference between ‘twice iron’ and ‘quadruple iron’ groups. In this case, passing time of ‘twice iron group’ was lesser than ‘quadruple group’. Passing time of ‘six-fold group’ was significantly lesser than ‘quadruple group’.
Main comparison to the similar studies
There was significant difference in spatial memory performance between groups with different iron consumptions. ‘Twice iron’ and ‘six-fold iron’ groups showed better time (regressive variable) than other groups, respectively. Extra iron supplement consumption affected spatial memory performance. Results of some studies confirm the result [10, 11, 18-20]. Nevertheless, some other studies have shown that consumption of iron supplement does not affect the spatial memory performance [12-14, 21].
Suggestions
Iron supplement should be consumed to enhance spatial memory performance.
Limitations
Study length and age and gender of the samples were some of the limitations for the present study.
Conclusions
Consumption of twice iron supplement results in the best spatial memory performance and more or less rate consumption than the amount might affect spatial memory.
Acknowledgments
Non-declared
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Non-declared
Funding Sources
Non-declared