Plasma iron levels appraised 15 days after spinal cord injury in a limb movement animal model

Abstract

Study design:Experimental, controlled trial.Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma iron and transferrin levels in a limb movement animal model with spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting:Universidade Federal de So Paulo, Departamento de Psicobiologia.Methods:In all, 72 male Wistar rats aged 90 days were divided into four groups: (1) acute SCI (1 day, SCI1), (2) 3 days post-SCI (SCI3), (3) 7 days post-SCI (SCI7) and (4) 15 days post-SCI (SCI15). Each of these groups had corresponding control (CTRL) and SHAM groups. Plasma iron and transferrin levels of the different groups were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test.Results:We found a significant reduction in iron plasma levels after SCI compared with the CTRL group: SCI1 (CTRL: 175±10.58 μg dl -1; SCI: 108.2±811.7 μg dl -1), SCI3 (CTRL: 195.5±11.00 μg dl -1; SCI: 127.88±12.63 μg dl -1), SCI7 (CTRL: 186±2.97 μg dl -1; SCI: 89.2±15.39 μg dl -1) and SCI15 (CTRL: 163±5.48 μg dl -1; SCI: 124.44±10.30 μg dl -1) (P<0.05; ANOVA). The SHAM1 group demonstrated a reduction in iron plasma after acute SCI (CTRL: 175±10.58 μg dl -1; SHAM: 114.60±7.81 μg dl -1) (P<0.05; ANOVA).Conclusion:Reduced iron metabolism after SCI may be one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of sleep-related movement disorders. © 2011 International Spinal Cord Society. All rights reserved.