Abstract
BackgroundManganese (Mn) is a naturally occurring element and an essential nutrient for humans and animals. However, exposure to high levels of Mn may cause neurotoxic effects. The pathological mechanisms associated with Mn neurotoxicity are poorly understood, but several reports have established it is mediated, at least in part, by oxidative stress. ObjectivesThe present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that a decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity mediates Mn-induced neurotoxicity. MethodsGroups of 6 rats received 4 or 8 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 25mg MnCl2/kg/day, every 48h. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, brain AChE activity and the levels of F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) and F4-neuroprostanes (F4-NPs) (biomarkers of oxidative stress), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (biomarker of neuroinflammation) were analyzed. ResultsThe results showed that after either 4 or 8 Mn doses, brain AChE activity was significantly decreased (p<0.05), to 60±16% and 55±13% of control levels, respectively. Both treated groups exhibited clear signs of neurobehavioral toxicity, characterized by a significant (p<0.001) decrease in ambulation and rearings in open-field. Furthermore, Mn treatment caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in brain F2-IsoPs and PGE2 levels, but only after 8 doses. In rats treated with 4 Mn doses, a significant increase (p<0.05) in brain F4-NPs levels was found. To evaluate cellular responses to oxidative stress, we assessed brain nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD, SOD2) protein expression levels. A significant increase in Mn-SOD protein expression (p<0.05) and a trend towards increased Nrf2 protein expression was noted in rat brains after 4 Mn doses vs. the control group, but the expression of these proteins was decreased after 8 Mn doses. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibitory effect of Mn on AChE activity promotes increased levels of neuronal oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory biomarkers.
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