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Background:

Chronic environmental exposure to manganese (Mn) can cause debilitating damage to the central nervous system. However, its potential toxic effects on the enteric nervous system (ENS) have yet to be assessed.

Objective:

We examined the effect of Mn on the ENS using both cell and animal models.

Method:

Rat enteric glial cells (EGCs) and mouse primary enteric cultures were exposed to increasing concentrations of Mn and cell viability and mitochondrial health were assessed using various morphological and functional assays. C57BL/6 mice were exposed daily to a sublethal dose of Mn ($15\mathrm{mg}/\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{d}$) for 30 d. Gut peristalsis, enteric inflammation, gut microbiome profile, and fecal metabolite composition were assessed at the end of exposure.

Results:

EGC mitochondria were highly susceptible to Mn neurotoxicity, as evidenced by lower mitochondrial mass, adenosine triphosphate–linked respiration, and aconitase activity as well as higher mitochondrial superoxide, upon Mn exposure. Minor differences were seen in the mouse model: specifically, longer intestinal transit times and higher levels of colonic inflammation.

Conclusion:

Based on our findings from this study, Mn preferentially induced mitochondrial dysfunction in a rat EGC line and in vivo resulted in inflammation in the ENS. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7877