Researchers exploring the link between newborn infections and later behavior and movement problems have found that inflammation in the brain keeps cells from accessing iron at a critical time in brain development.
Specific cells in the brain need iron to produce the white matter that ensures efficient communication among cells in the central nervous system. White matter refers to white-colored bundles of myelin, a protective coating on the axons that project from the main body of a brain cell.
Scientists from Ohio State University induced a mild E. coli infection in 3-day-old mice. This caused a transient inflammatory response in their brains that was resolved within 72 hours.
This brain inflammation, although fleeting, interfered with the storage and release of iron. This meant that iron avaiaibilty in the brain was temporarily reduced.
When the iron was needed most, it was unavailable, researchers say.
Jonathan Godbout, associate professor of neuroscience at the university and senior author of the study, explains:
"What's important is that the timing of the inflammation during brain development switches the brain's gears from development to trying to deal with inflammation. The consequence of that is this abnormal iron storage by neurons that limits access of iron to the rest of the brain."
The cells that need iron during this critical period of development are called oligodendrocytes, which produce myelin and wrap it around axons. In the current study, neonatal infection caused neurons to increase their storage of iron, which deprived iron from oligodendrocytes.
Poor coordination and hyperactivity
In other mice, the scientists confirmed that neonatal E. coli infection was associated with motor coordination problems and hyperactivity 2 months later - the equivalent to young adulthood in humans.
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