Subcellular and gel chromatographic distribution of manganese in the mouse brain: relation to the chemical form of chronically-ingested manganese.

The subcellular distribution of manganese and the binding characteristics of manganese to protein in the mouse brain were examined on G-75 Sephadex gel columns. Four manganese compounds were included at 2 g/kg in each food eaten by ddY mice for 12 months. The cerebral cortex manganese concentrations in the virtually insoluble manganese compounds were significantly higher than those in the control group. The brain striatal subcellular distribution and gel chromatographic profiles of manganese were similar among the divalent manganese compounds. On the contrary, the behaviour of MnO2 was little different from the divalent manganese compounds. There was more manganese associated with fast-migrating ligands in the striatal cytosol of the manganese-exposed group than in the control groups.