Title
Regulation of Iron-Related Molecules In the Rat Hippocampus: Sex- and Age-Associated Differences
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2012
Abstract
Iron accumulation, especially that of free oxidized ferrous iron, has been shown to induce tissue oxidative damage and contribute to brain aging and the development of neurodegenerative disease. Here we examine whether sex and advanced age affect the expression of iron-related molecules that participate in regulating free iron levels (heme oxygenase I (HOI), iron-regulatory protein I (IRPI), and ferritin heavy chain (FTH)) and whether changes in the expression of these molecules are associated with differences in the expression of alpha-synuclein (ASN) which is thought to be a critical regulator in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Using a well-established aging animal model, we demonstrate that the expression of HOI, FTH, and IRPI mRNAs is higher in the female hippocampus than that observed in male Fischer 344/NNiaHSD x Brown Norway/BiNia (F344BN) rats, regardless of age group. Consistent with these sexassociated alterations in iron-related regulators, the expression of ASN mRNA and protein in the female hippocampus was lower than that found in male rats. These results suggest a sex-dependent difference in regulating the expression of molecules involved in iron metabolism and neurodegeneration. A similar finding in humans, if present, may help to shed light on why sex may affect the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders.
Recommended Citation
Thulluri S, Wu M, Blough ER, Manne ND, Litchfield AB, Wang B. Regulation of iron-related molecules in the rat hippocampus: sex- and age-associated differences. Ann Clin Lab Sci 2012, 42(2):145–151.
Comments
This article first appeared in the Spring 2012 issue of Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science, the member magazine of the Association of Clinical Scientists, and is reprinted with permission.
©2012 Association of Clinical Scientists. All rights reserved.