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Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Functional Neuroimaging Using Ultrasonic Blood-brain Barrier Disruption and Manganese-enhanced MRI
Published on: July 12, 2012
New insights on mechanisms underlying methylmercury-induced and manganese-induced neurotoxicity
Airton C Martins1, Tao Ke1, Aaron B Bowman2
1Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Toxic and essential elements are widely distributed in the Earth's crust and individuals may be exposed to several of them. Indeed, exposure to toxic elements such as mercury (Hg) can be a potential health risk factor of health, mainly by ingestion of fish containing methylmercury (MeHg). On the other hand, essential elements such as manganese (Mn) play an important role in physiological process in human body. However, Mn overexposure may cause toxic effects. In this respect, the neurotoxic effects of MeHg and Mn on the developing brain are well recognized. Therefore, in this critical review, we address the effects of MeHg and Mn on cell signaling pathways which may contribute to molecular mechanisms involved in MeHg- and Mn-induced neurotoxicity.
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