目的：观察铁缺乏对大鼠学习能力的影响。方法：64只SD大鼠随机分为对照组及实验组，均予低铁饮食，但对照组每周腹腔注射右旋糖酐铁5 mg。分别于低铁饮食后第2周、第10周，用MG-2型三等分辐射式迷宫检测大鼠学习记忆能力的改变，用三电极等离子体原子发射直读光谱仪测定肝组织、脑组织铁含量。结果：铁缺乏非贫血期实验组大鼠脑组织铁含量已明显低于对照组［(11.2±5.5) μg/g vs (20.7±6.5) μg/g］(P<0.01)；其学习记忆能力有降低趋势，达标所需反应次数分别为 (51.9±10.8)次和(50.1±7.7)次，两组间差异无显著性(P>0.05)，实验组正确反应率为(51.7±3.2)%，低于对照组(50.5±4.9)%，P>0.05。在缺铁性贫血期，实验组大鼠脑组织铁含量进一步降低［(13.7±3.5) μg/g vs (26.1±2.7) μg/g］(P<0.01)；学习记忆能力显著降低，对照组达标所需反应次数(50.4±9.1)次低于实验组(72.1±8.8)次(P<0.01)，实验组正确反应率(58.7±4.9)%低于对照组(66.4±8.9)%(P<0.05)。结论：铁缺乏大鼠的学习记忆能力降低与其脑组织铁含量降低有关。

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of iron deficiency on memory and learning capability in rats. METHODS: Sixty four SD rats were randomly assigned to the control group and the experimental group. The experimental group received a low iron content diet, and the control group got 5 mg iron dextrin weekly by intraperitoneal injection. The iron contents in the brain and liver were determined using the DCP AES technique in all the rats at the second and tenth week. The memory and learning capability were tested by means of the MG 2 model maze. RESULTS: In the iron deficient nonanemic stage, the iron content of the brain was significantly lower than that of the control group [( 11.2 ± 5.5 ) μg/g vs ( 20.7 ± 6.5 ) μg/g](P< 0.01 ). And the memory and learning capability tended to be low. The iron content of the brain of the experimental group in the anemic stage was much lower [( 13.7 ± 3.5 ) μg/g vs ( 26.1 ± 2.7 ) μg/g](P< 0.01 ) and the memory and learning capability remained markedly lower compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that iron deficient rats had memory and learning defects which may be related to the low iron content of the brain.