Neuroprotective Effect of Vitamin D on Behavioral and Oxidative Parameters of Male and Female Adult Wistar Rats Exposed to Mancozeb (manganese/zinc ethylene bis-dithiocarbamate).

The constant exposure of rural workers to pesticides is a serious public health problem. Mancozeb (MZ) is a pesticide  linked to hormonal, behavioral, genetic, and neurodegenerative effects, mainly related to oxidative stress. Vitamin D is a promising molecule that acts as a protector against brain aging. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective role of vitamin D in adult male and female Wistar rats exposed to MZ. Animals received 40 mg/kg of MZ i.p. and 12.5 μg/kg or 25 μg/kg vitamin D by gavage, twice a week, for 6 weeks. The concentration of manganese had a significant increase in the hippocampus of both sexes and in the striatum of females, unlike zinc, which did not show a significant increase. MZ poisoning led to mitochondrial changes in brain tissues and promoted anxiogenic effects, especially in females. Alterations in antioxidant enzymes, mainly in the catalase activity were observed in intoxicated rats. Taken together, our results showed that exposure to MZ leads to the accumulation of manganese in brain tissues, and the behavior and metabolic/oxidative impairment were different between the sexes. Furthermore, the administration of Vitamin D was effective in preventing the damage caused by the pesticide.