# Identifying neuronal targets and mechanisms of manganese-induced neuromotor disease

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2024 · $40,613

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient, but in excess, it is neurotoxic. Humans who are
over-exposed to Mn environmentally or occupationally develop cognitive and motor deficits.
Under conditions of over-exposure, Mn builds up in the basal ganglia of the brain, which
primarily contains dopaminergic or GABAergic neurons. However, the exact neural targets and
mechanisms of Mn toxicity are poorly understood. A question that remains unanswered is
whether Mn targets dopaminergic or GABAergic neurons of the basal ganglia to induce motor
disease. In the proposed work, we use the critical Mn efflux transporter protein SLC30A10 as a
tool to address this question. Homozygous loss-of-function mutations of SLC30A10 causes
childhood dystonia and adult-onset parkinsonism. We previously showed that loss of SLC30A10
in the brain leads to elevated Mn levels in the basal ganglia in early-life, lifelong motor deficits,
and impaired evoked dopamine release. Previous studies also revealed that selective loss of
SLC30A10 in dopaminergic neurons leads to motor deficits in early-life that persist into
adulthood. These findings show that activity of SLC30A10 in dopaminergic neurons is required
to protect against Mn toxicity and suggest that Mn targets dopaminergic neurons of the basal
ganglia. To definitively identify the neuronal targets and mechanisms of Mn toxicity, we will use
dopaminergic- or GABAergic-specific Slc30a10 knockin mice. These mouse models allow us to
selectively increase Slc30a10 expression in specific neurons and attenuate increased Mn levels
after exposure. In the proposed work, we will use behavioral and neurochemical approaches to
test the hypothesis that dopaminergic neurons are the primary target of Mn. Knockin and control
mice will receive an oral Mn treatment or vehicle treatment starting from birth, and we will
perform behavioral assays at various timepoints from PND28-180. Proposed experiments also
include metal analyses and assaying for changes in evoked dopamine and GABA release by in-
vivo microdialysis. Results from early-life behavioral assays with the dopaminergic-specific
Slc30a10 knockin strain have shown that knockin mice are protected from early-life Mn-induced
motor deficits after Mn exposure, compared to control littermates that develop motor deficits.
These novel findings corroborate the hypothesis that Mn primarily targets dopaminergic neurons
of the basal ganglia to induce motor disease. This proposed study will therefore provide
valuable insight into the prevention of Mn-induced disease and inform future studies towards
developing treatments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10998783
- **Project number:** 1F31ES036908-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Ashvini Melkote
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $40,613
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-16 → 2027-08-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10998783

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10998783, Identifying neuronal targets and mechanisms of manganese-induced neuromotor disease (1F31ES036908-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10998783. Licensed CC0.

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