Objective    To investigate the roles of iron ion in the development of experimental hydrocephalus in rats.     Methods    Seventy-five Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 3 groups randomly

that is

the iron group

the semi-iron group and the artificial   cerebrospinal fluid   (CSF) control group. FeCl

3

of 5 μl dissolved in artificial CSF with the concentration of 6.67 g/L and 3.33 g/L were slowly infused into the right lateral cerebral ventricle of the rats in the iron group and in the semis-iron group respectively. The rats in the artificial CSF control group were infused 5 μl artificial CSF. The rats were sacrificed 1

14 and 28

d later to measure the transverse diameter of the lateral ventricle for the evaluation of hydrocephalus and the index of ventricle

and pathology of brain was also observed.     Results    There were significant difference of hydrocephalus between the iron group (9/10) and the semis-iron group(1/5) at 28 d (P0.01). The index of ventricle in iron group were higher than the semis-iron group and the artificial CSF control group (P0.01). Cellular proliferation surrounding ventricle

edema of choroid plexus

deposit of haemosiderin

absence of ciliums and microvillares of the ependymal cells were observed in rats of the iron group. The pathological changes in the semis-iron group were milder than in the iron group. The artificial CSF control group showed no hydrocephalus.     Conclusion    Injecting higher concentration of iron into the lateral cerebral ventricle can produce hydrocephalus.