Effects of iron deficiency in early life on neuroethology in CDH2 genetic mutation rats / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effects of iron deficiency in early life on neurobehavioral manifestations in CDH2 genetic mutation rats, in order to explore interaction between iron deficiency and CDH2 gene mutation in autism-like behavior.Methods:The 16 female SD rats with established CDH2 genetic mutations were randomly divided into 8 rats as iron deficiency group and 8 rats as normal diet control group.After mating, rats were fed low-iron diets during pregnancy and lactation or standard diets as control.The offsprings were randomly divided into 27 rats as iron deficiency group and 27 rats as control group.The voice communication ability of offspring was studied through ultrasonic vocalizations.The data and videos of open-field test, three-chamber social interaction test were recorded by animal behavioral video analysis system(Smart3.0). The characteristics of behavior changes were analyzed by statistical methods.Results:Total number of calls in rats aged 10 day in iron deficiency group[(755.67±161.86)times]were significantly lower than that in the control group[(1461.89±166.57)times]( P<0.05). Total calling duration[(41.77±16.17)s]were significantly lower than that in the control group[(86.22±10.07)s]( P<0.05). There is a certain synergistic effect of CDH2 genetic mutation and iron deficiency on the reduction of total calls in rats aged 6 and 8 day( P<0.05). The total distance, distance in zone-periphery, mean speed in zone-total and mean speed in zone-periphery of rats in iron deficiency group were all higher than that in the control group( P<0.05); the numbers of standing and rearing were reduced( P<0.05). In the second stage of the three-chamber test, the rats in the iron deficiency group had shorter communication time with the new stranger 2 and longer interaction time with the old stranger 1 compared with the control, showing a weakening trend of social ability, but the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). Conclusion:Autism-like behavioral changes occurred in rats with iron deficiency in early life and CDH2 genetic mutation, and there is a certain degree of synergy.Iron deficiency and CDH2 mutation may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder.