To study manganese (Mn) transport in the neural circuit of rat CNS, brain isotope distribution after 54Mn injection into the brain was analyzed by autoradiography. One day after 54MnCl2 injection into the striatum, 54Mn was highly distributed in the ipsilateral thalamus, hypothalamus, and substantia nigra. When 54MnCl2 was bilaterally injected into the striata after unilateral treatment with colchicine or vehicle into the medial forebrain bundle, 54Mn was distributed in both sides of the substantia nigra of vehicle-treated rats. On the other hand, unilateral colchicine treatment caused a decrease of 54Mn distribution in the ipsilateral substantia nigra, suggesting that Mn is subjected to axonal transport in the striatonigra and/or nigrostriatal pathways. In the case of unilateral injection of 54MnCl2 into the olfactory bulb, 54Mn was distributed in the ipsilateral piriform, amygdaloid areas (the primary olfactory cortex), and entorhinal area (the secondary olfactory cortex). These results suggest that Mn is subject to widespread axonal transport in the neural circuits. Moreover, Mn may be taken up by the piriform neurons (the third olfactory neuron) after release from the secondary olfactory neuron terminals and transported to the entorhinal area.