Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that dietary fibre (DF) has protective effects against manganese (Mn)-induced neurotoxicity. Forty-eight one-month old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, 16 % DF, Mn (50 mg kg-1 body weight), Mn+ 4 % DF, Mn+ 8 % DF, and Mn+ 16 % DF. After oral administration of Mn (as MnCl2) by intragastric tube during one month, we determined Mn concentrations in the blood, liver, cerebral cortex, and stool and tested neurobehavioral functions. Administration of Mn was associated with increased Mn concentration in the blood, liver, and cerebral cortex and increased Mn excretion in the stool. Aberrations in neurobehavioral performance included increases in escape latency and number of errors and decrease in step-down latency. Irrespective of the applied dose, the addition of DF in forage decreased tissue Mn concentrations and increased Mn excretion rate in the stool by 20 % to 35 %. All neurobehavioral aberrations were also improved. Our findings show that oral exposure to Mn may cause neurobehavioral abnormalities in adult rats that could be efficiently alleviated by concomitant supplementation of DF in animal feed.
Highlights
We tested the hypothesis that dietary fibre (DF) has protective effects against manganese (Mn)-induced neurotoxicity
The overall analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed a significant difference in escape latency between all groups (F=36.6, P
Over the same test days, the escape latency in Mn+DF-treated groups was significantly lower than in the Mn group and the lowering trend correlated with increasing DF percentage (Table 1, first five columns)
Summary
We tested the hypothesis that dietary fibre (DF) has protective effects against manganese (Mn)-induced neurotoxicity. Manganese is an essential trace nutrient in all forms of life It is necessary for normal functioning of a variety of physiological processes that include protein, amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism and can be found in various biological tissues. The syndrome includes tremor, postural instability, bradykinesia, gait disturbance, rigidity, ataxia, and even cognitive deficits [1, 4] Among these symptoms, cognitive deficits such as spatial working memory, reference memory, and learning capacity disorders have received less attention than motor function disorders. Symptoms of manganism include cephalalgia, fatigue, sleep disturbances, sialorrhoea, adynamia, muscular pain and hypertonia, mask-like face, gait changes, reduced coordination, hallucinations, and mental irritability Among these symptoms, cognitive deficits including disturbance of learning and memory are dramatic. In spite of the criticism due to certain biases pointed out in the above mentioned reports, the fact remains that Bowler et al [8] confirmed the correlation between abnormal neuropsychological findings and Mn exposure in welders in a dose-related manner
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
