Methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (
MMT) is an organic
manganese (Mn) compound added to unleaded
gasoline. It has been suggested that the combustion products of
MMT containing Mn, such as
manganese phosphate, could cause neurological symptoms similar to
Parkinson's disease in humans. The aim of this work was to investigate the exposure-response relationship of bioaccumulation, neuropathology, and neurobehavior following a subchronic inhalation exposure to
manganese phosphate in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Rats were exposed 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 13 consecutive weeks at 30, 300, or 3000 microg/m(3) Mn
phosphate and compared to controls. Some rats were implanted with chronic EMG
electrodes in the gastrocnemius muscle of the hind limb to assess
tremor at the end of Mn exposure. Spontaneous motor activity was measured for 36 h using a computerized autotrack system. Rats were then sacrificed by
exsanguination and Mn level in different brain tissues and other organs was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Neuronal cell counts were obtained by assessing the sum of five grid areas for the caudate/putamen and the sum of two adjacent areas for the globus pallidus. Increased
manganese concentrations were observed in all tissues of the brain and was dose-dependent in olfactory bulb and caudate/putamen. In fact, beginning with the highest level of exposure (3000 microg/m(3)) and ending with the control group, Mn concentrations in the olfactory bulb were 2.47 vs 1.28 vs 0.77 vs 0.64 ppm (P < 0.05) while for the caudate/putamen, Mn concentrations were 1.06 vs 0.73 vs 0.62 vs 0.47 ppm (P < 0.05). The Mn concentrations in lung were also dose-dependent (10.30 vs 1.40 vs 0.42 vs 0.17 ppm; P < 0.05). No statistical difference was observed for loss of neurons in caudate/putamen and globus pallidus. Locomotor activity assessment and
tremor assessment did not reveal in neurobehavioral changes between the groups. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that the olfactory bulb and caudate/putamen are the main brain tissues for Mn accumulation after subchronic inhalation exposure.