Concurrent exposure of lead and manganese to iron-deficient rats: effect on lipid peroxidation and contents of some metals in the brain.

Iron-deficient rats were co-exposed to manganese and lead to study lipid peroxide formation and contents of lead, manganese, copper, iron, zinc and calcium in the brain. Concurrent exposure to lead and manganese increased the lipid peroxidation potential of brain in iron-deficient rats. The concentration of lead, manganese and copper in the brain of iron-deficient rats increased to a greater magnitude after concurrent exposure to manganese and lead, compared with that observed after the exposure of either of the metals alone. Since copper is a potent inhibitor of transport ATPase in the brain, its significant increase, coupled with increased lipid peroxidation in the brain of iron-deficient rats, may be responsible for enhanced susceptibility of iron-deficient rats to the neurotoxic effects after the combined exposure to lead and manganese.