Specific aim 1: To investigate the beneficial effects of several iron chelators; deferoxamine, deferiprone, deferasirox on brain dendritic spines morphology, dendritic spine number, brain iron deposit and the markers of Alzheimers disease; ?-amyloids (A?), Amyloid-precursors proteins (APP) and Tau-protein in high-iron diet induced iron-overload rats.
Specific aim 2: To investigate the effects of different iron concentrations on cell viability, cell apoptosis, mitochondrial dynamics and the markers of Alzheimers disease; ?-amyloids (A?), Amyloid-precursors proteins (APP) and Tau-protein in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.
Specific aim 3: To investigate the effects in both protection and therapy of iron chelators; deferoxamine, deferiprone, deferasirox and the antioxidant; N-acetyl cysteine on cell viability, cell apoptosis, mitochondrial dynamics and markers of Alzheimers disease; ?-amyloids (A?), Amyloid-precursors proteins (APP) and Tau-protein in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells applied with iron
Specific aim 4: To investigate the effects of iron on the Na+, K+ and Ca2+ currents in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.