Evaluation of the Association between Serum Iron Level and 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Parkinsonism in Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's is a degenerative brain disease, and changes in the balance of rare elements, particularly iron, are believed to play a key role in its development. Iron is crucial for dopamine production, which is affected by the disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum iron levels and the development of Parkinson's disease in rat models.

Methods: Twenty-four male rats were divided into three groups: control, sham, and Parkinson's. To induce Parkinson's disease, 4 µg/μL of the 6-hydroxydopamine toxin was injected into the middle frontal brain bundle (MFB) region of the right hemisphere of the rats' brains using stereotaxic surgery. The severity of Parkinsonism was assessed in the third, fifth, eighth, and tenth weeks after surgery using the apomorphine-induced rotation test and the cylinder test. Blood samples were collected once before surgery and three times afterward, and serum iron levels were measured using the ion-selective electrode (ISE) method.

Results: Based on the severity of behavioral symptoms, the rats that received the toxin were divided into three subgroups: mild, moderate, and severe. The serum iron level in the first blood draw was 142.5 ± 4.6. Serum iron levels decreased in all groups following the injection, with a significant reduction observed in the Parkinson's group compared to the control group. Additionally, serum iron levels were significantly lower in the severe Parkinson's subgroup compared to the mild subtype.

Conclusion: Experimental Parkinson's disease causes a significant decrease in serum iron levels, and the extent of this decrease is related to the severity of behavioral symptoms in rats.