Changes of iron concentration and expression of ferroportin 1 in the cortex and hippocampus in rats induced by cerebral ischemia

Objective To explore the effect of ischemia on the iron concentration and the expression of ferroportin 1(FP1)in the cortex and hippocampus in rats.MethodsBilateral common carotid arteries were ligated to induce cerebral ischemia in Wistar rats.The iron concentrations of the cortex and hippocampus in rats were measured by graphite stove atomic absorption spectrometry.Iron was stained by DAB enhanced Perls' reaction.FP1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry method.ResultsThe iron concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of cerebral ischemic rats began to increase at day 7 and increased significantly at day 28 compared with control rats.There were more iron granules in the neurons of the cortex and hippocampus in ischemic rats compared with control rats.FP1 expression began to decrease in cerebral ischemic rats at day 7,and decreased to the least level at day 28 compared with control rats.ConclusionA series of pathophyologic changes(an increase of iron concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of rats,iron accumulation in neurons and a decrease of FP1 expression)could be induced by cerebral ischemia,which indicates that the decrease of FP1 expression may involve in iron deposition in neurons.