Effect of early iron deficiency on reactivity of the rat parietal association cortex.

The effect of early iron deficiency on the reactivity of the rat parietal association cortex was studied by determining excitability thresholds, fatigability and extension of the responsive field to direct cortical stimulation. Iron deficiency during the period of rapid brain growth caused a significant increase of cortical chronaxie values as well as increased fatigability of direct cortical responses, indicating a detrimental effect on the axodendritic synapses. Since the parietal association area plays an important role in brain association processes, a dysfunction of this cortical area could be a causal link between early iron deficiency and behavioral or learning deficits.