Paradoxical regulation of iron in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex induces schizophrenic-like symptoms in male rats.

Social isolation induces schizophrenic-like symptoms. Iron is an essential element for brain functions. The aim of this study is to investigate if the emergence of schizophrenia after social isolation is the result of impaired iron metabolism in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex. In this study, 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: 1) grouped housed (GH), 2) socially isolated (SI), 3) grouped housed + vehicle, 4) grouped housed + morphine, 5) socially isolated + vehicle and 6) socially isolated + morphine. After 14 days of social isolation and group housing, behavioral experiments were performed. Then, the iron in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and serum was assessed. SI rats were more anxious in compared to GH rats. Memory was better in GH rats compared to SI rats. SI rats had more locomotor activity compared to GH rats. Iron was higher in the hippocampus in GH rats compared to SI rats. Paradoxically iron was higher in the prefrontal cortex in SI rats compared to GH rats. In serum, iron was higher in GH rats compared to SI rats. Emergence of schizophrenic-like symptoms is associated with the paradoxical concentration of iron in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the isolation period. Further studies are recommended to investigate the possible specific changes in ion transporters and the metabolism of the neurotransmitter that occurs as the result of this paradoxical regulation.