Behavioral and neurochemical changes in rats simultaneously exposed to manganese and lead

Groups of rats were exposed simultaneously to manganese chloride (3 mg Mn²⁺/ml water) through drinking water and lead acetate intraperitoneally at dosages of 5.0, 8.0 and 12.0 mg Pb²⁺/kg daily for a period of 14 days. The magnitude of changes in the behavioral pattern, contents of biogenic amines and accumulation of lead in the brain of rats simultaneously exposed to the two metals was significantly greater than observed in rats after exposure to either of the metals alone. A definite dose-response relationship was, however, noticed only with the changes in the motoractivity, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine levels and in the accumulation of lead in rats simultaneously exposed to manganese and lead. The lowering in the contents of norepinephrine after combined treatment was found to be related with the decrease in the motoractivity in the rats. The exact role of depression in the levels of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in inducing marked impairment in learning ability and increased aggressive behavior in rats after the combined exposure to manganese and lead could not be ascertained. The overall analysis of the data indicated that the simultaneous exposure to manganese and lead, particularly with highest dose of the latter, may produce serious derangements in the behavioral pattern and levels of biogenic amines in the brain of rats.