Age-dependent effects of gestational and lactational iron deficiency on anxiety behavior in rats.

Gestational iron deficiency (ID) has been linked to alterations in GABA neurotransmission, but whether these neuronal changes are mirrored in altered anxiety behavior in rats is not known. In this experiment, two tests of GABA-related affective behaviors in rats, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and elevated plus maze (EPM) were used to investigate the consequences of maternal ID. Female rats were randomly assigned to one of three diet groups: low iron (10-20 ppm Fe), recommended (standard) iron control (60 ppm Fe) or lab chow (250 ppm Fe) control.