Fig. 5.

l-NAME preserves iron homeostasis in the neonatal rat brain exposed to hypoxia–ischemia. P7 neonatal rats were pre-treated with l-NAME (30 mg/kg, 30 min) then exposed to HI. Eight hours post-HI the brains were removed and the right hemisphere was subjected to Western blot analysis to evaluate changes in IRP-1 (A), ferritin (B), and TfR (C) levels. IRP-1 protein levels are unaffected by HI (A). However, HI decreases ferritin protein levels (B) and increases TfR levels (C). These changes are attenuated by l-NAME (B and C). In addition the iron deposition was determined. Representative images are shown (D). The intensity of blue color was increased by HI, indicating increased iron deposition and this was attenuated by l-NAME (D). Values are presented as mean±S.D. from 5–6 animals per group. *P<0.05 vs. sham, †P<0.05 vs. HI+vehicle.