Involvement of MEK5/ERK5 signaling pathway in manganese-induced cell injury in dopaminergic MN9D cells.

•Mn-induced neurotoxicity in mouse dopaminergic neuron MN9D was studied.•Mn exposure alters neuronal cell’s survival and functionally inhibits DA production.•The signal pathway mediated by MEK5/ERK5 regulate the cell’s response to ROS and DA.•The MEK5/ERK5 plays an anti-apoptotic role in the cytotoxicity of MN9D induced by Mn.