In order to estimate the relationship between iron and the Alzheimer's disease, the behavioral and pathological changes were observed by Morris water maze and immunohistochemical staining respectively after injecting FeC13 into brain ventricle of rats. The apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry and the electron microscopy was used to observe ultrastructural changes. There were significant differences in escape latency of time and distance between normal animals and iron treated rats. Percentage and fluorescence intension (FI) of AnnexinV FITC loaded cells undergoing apoptosis were higher in iron treated rats compared with normal animals. Fawn-coloured products of β amyloid protein were interspersedly distributed in extensive areas of cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Under electron microscope, vacuolate degeneration of neuronal processes with mitochondria degeneration and accumulation of microtubule near vacuolar nucleus were observed in iron treated rats. These results suggest that a local higher concentration of iron in brain may induce Alzheimer-like impairment of intelligence and pathological changes.