Manganese-induced Parkinsonism in mice is reduced using a novel contaminated water sediment exposure model

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2020 Aug:78:103399. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103399. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Abstract

Heavy metals enter the aquatic environment and accumulate within water sediments, but these metal-sediment interactions remain to be explored within toxicity studies. We developed an exposure model in mice that encapsulates the aquatic microenvironment of metals before exposure. Male and female C57/BL6 mice were exposed via their drinking water to manganese contaminated sediment (Sed_Mn) or to manganese without sediment interaction (Mn) for six weeks. Sediment interaction did not alter weekly manganese ingestion from water in males or females. We analyzed motor impairment, a common feature in manganese-induced Parkinsonism, using the beam traversal, cylinder, and accelerating rotarod tests. Sed_Mn mice performed better overall compared to Mn mice and males were more sensitive to manganese than females in both Sed_Mn and Mn treatment groups. Our study indicates that metal-sediment interactions may alter metal toxicity in mammals and introduces a new exposure model to test the toxicity of metal contaminants of drinking water.

Keywords: Behavior toxicity; Geologic sediments; Heavy metals toxicity; Manganese; Mouse.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Male
  • Manganese / toxicity*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Manganese