Endocrine Disruption: Evaluation of the Androgen Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Activity using the Stably Transfected Human Androgen Receptor Transactivation Assay (AR-CALUXÂ Cell Line)/ Mn Metal Powder and MnCl2

This study investigated the ability of two Mn-containing materials, MnClâ‚‚ and high-purity electrolytic manganese powder ((HPEMP), also known as Mn metal), to activate or block human androgen receptor alpha (hAR) signaling using the AR-CALUX® cell line in vitro.

 A single valid AR agonist and AR antagonist experiment was performed for each test material following solubility analysis to determine suitable top concentrations of the test materials. Milli-Q water (MQ) was used as vehicle.

Both materials were evaluated across eight concentrations ranging from 100 pM to 100 µM, with the actual Mn exposure from Mn metal being lower due to very low water solubility.

 A cytotoxicity assessment using RealTime Glo™ (RTG) showed no cytotoxicity for MnClâ‚‚ or Mn metal under AR agonist or antagonist conditions.

Overall, both MnClâ‚‚ and Mn metal were considered negative in the AR-CALUX agonist and antagonist experiments, as relative induction values were below the RPC10 for all non-cytotoxic concentrations tested in the AR-CALUX agonist experiment and the relative induction remained above the RPC80 for all non-cytotoxic concentrations tested in the AR-CALUX antagonist experiment.