Spatial memory impairment is associated with decreased dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity in the brains of rats exposed to manganese chloride.

Chronic exposure to manganese compounds leads to accumulation of the manganese in the basal ganglia and hippocampus. High levels of manganese in these structures lead to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, imbalance of brain neurotransmitters, and hyperactivation of calpains mediating neurotoxicity and causing motor and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of excess manganese chloride intake on rats' spatial memory and on dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH) activity under conditions of calpain activity suppression.