Figure 8. Proposed model displaying the impact of gestational iron restriction on characterized neural cell populations along a developmental time line.

At embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5), multipotent neural stem cells can be isolated from the spinal cord. These cells give rise to glial restricted (GRP) and neuron restricted precursor cells (NRP) that can be isolated at around E13.5. Committed oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) are generated at around E18.5 and are thought to persist through early adulthood. The first mature myelin-producing oligodendrocytes arise around the day of birth (postnatal day 1). Blue arrows indicate the time of initiation of the iron-deficient diet that is associated with a disruption in the ABR conduction velocity at postnatal day 45 and mark the window of vulnerability. Red arrows represent the time of initiation of the iron-deficient diet that is not associated with impaired auditory nerve conduction.