Neurotoxic effects of manganese: studies on cell cultures, tissue homogenates and intact animals.

This paper gives a short summary of some neurotoxic effects of manganese. Further, a model of toxicological action of manganese is discussed. Such a model should probably involve influences via redox reactions. In this study results revealed that the lipid peroxidation was reduced when neuroblastoma cells in culture were treated with manganese chloride. Additionally, the thiol content of proteins as well as non-protein thiols were reduced in the same experimental system. Due to the essential function of thiol groups in life processes, the observed drop in the amount of thiols must be of some importance for the toxicology of manganese. In relation to this, previously known physiological and biochemical effects of manganese are discussed.