Bis(methylmercuric) selenide as a reaction product from methylmercury and selenite in rabbit blood

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6119226

Naganuma, A; Imura, N

The compound formed by the reaction of methylmercury and selenite in rabbit blood was characterized. When methylmercuric chloride (10 nmol) and sodium selenite (10 nmol) were added to rabbit blood (1 ml), about 6.5 nmol of mercury and 3.2 nmol of selenium were extracted with benzene. Mercury and selenium thus transferred into benzene at the molar ratio of 2:1 were confirmed to form a single compound which was identified as bis(methylmercuric) selenide:(CH/sub 3/HG)/sub 2/Se. The formation of (CH/sub 3/Hg)/sub 2/Se from methylmercury and selenite in blood, presumably by the participitation of glutathione (GSH), might play a role in the protective effect of selenium against methylmercury toxicity.

• Research Organization: Kitasato Univ., Tokyo, Japan
• OSTI ID: 6119226
• Journal Information: Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.; (United States), Vol. 27:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
SELENIDES
METABOLISM
TOXICITY
SELENIUM
BLOOD
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METHYLMERCURY
RABBITS
SYNERGISM
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
VERTEBRATES
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