Glutathione deficiency potentiates manganese toxicity in rat striatum and brainstem and in PC12 cells

Levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), noradrenaline (NA), glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) and uric acid (UA) were determined in the striatum and/or in the brainstem of 3-month-old male Wistar rats after subchronic oral exposure to MnCl₂, (20 mg kg^-1 daily) alone or associated to buthionine (S,R) sulphoximine-ethyl ester (BSO-E), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. The NA, DA, DOPAC, GSH and glutathione disulphide (GSSG) concentrations were also determined in PC12 cells incubated with Mn alone or associated with either BSO-E or AA. When PC12 cells were incubated with AA, cellular AA and DHAA concentrations were also determined. It was found that BSO-E: (a) decreased GSH levels in the striatum and in the brainstem; (b) potentiated the Mn-induced increase in AA oxidation and uric acid formation in both brain regions; and (c) potentiated the Mn-induced DA and NA depletion in the brainstem. Moreover, the changes in striatal DA metabolism induced by the BSO-E association with Mn (decrease in DA, DOPAC and HVA levels and in the DOPAC + HVA/DA ratio) are consistent with the hypothesis of a loss of dopaminergic neurons. In PC12 cells, BSO-E decreased GSH and GSSG levels and potentiated the Mn-induced decrease in DA and NA concentrations. On the contrary, AA antagonised the Mn-induced DA and NA depletion. AA antagonised also the Mn^- and Mn⁺BSO-induced decrease in PC12 cells viability. In conclusion, the impairment of neuronal antioxidant system activity plays a permissive role in the oxidative stress-mediated Mn neurotoxicity.