Table 1: Treatment scheme with group codes, doses and treatment times.

Group code Treatment and dose C3 3 weeks, untreated VC3 3 weeks, distilled water, orally MnL3 3 weeks 14.84 mg/kg b.w. MnCl2, orally MnH3 3 weeks 59.36 mg/kg b.w. MnCl2, orally C33 6 weeks, untreated* VC33 3 weeks, distilled water, orally + 3 weeks HEC intratracheally MnL33 3 weeks 14.48 mg/b.w. kg MnCL2, orally + 3 weeks MnO2 NPs 2.63 mg/kg b.w. intratracheally MnH33 3 weeks 59.36 mg/b.w. kg MnCL2, orally + 3 weeks MnO2 NPs 2.63 mg/kg b.w. intratracheally C6 6 weeks, untreated* VC6 6 weeks, distilled water, orally MnL6 6 weeks 14.84 mg/kg b.w. MnCl2, orally MnH6 6 weeks 59.36 mg/kg b.w. MnCl2, orally

*C33 and C6 were two different groups of rats.