title: Peripheral markers of catecholamine metabolism among workers occupationally exposed to manganese (Mn).
abstract: In a preliminary study of 11 men randomly selected in a ferro-alloy plant and of 15 control subjects, platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activities were measured. A tendency towards lower MAO-B activity in the exposed workers as compared to control subjects (t = 1.95; P = 0.06) was found whereas DBH activity was similar. In the exposed group, a dose-effect relationship was noted between a manganese (Mn) cumulative exposure index (CEI) and DBH activity (R2 = 0.40, P < 0.05). Since DBH is an expression of catecholamine release, the relative increase in such activity could be envisaged as a compensatory mechanism to a reduced turnover rate as reflected by MAO-B activity. Owing to the limited sample size, these findings should be confirmed by further epidemiological and experimental studies.
authors.affiliation: Centre pour l'étude des intéractions biologiques entre la santé et l'environnement (Cinbiose), Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smargiassi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mergler
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergamaschi
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Vettori
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucchini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apostoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002395:Catecholamines; D008345:Manganese; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase