Effects of ethanol on methyl mercury toxicity in rats

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398609530897· OSTI ID:5001530

Tamashiro, H; Arakaki, M; Akagi, H; Murao, K; Hirayama, K; Smolensky, M H

This study was designed to investigate the effect of different doses of ethanol on the morbidity, mortality, and distribution of mercury in the tissues of groups of rats treated orally once daily with methyl mercury chloride (MMC: 5 mg/kg d) for 10 consecutive days. Ethanol potentiated the toxicity of methyl mercury in terms of neurological manifestations (hindleg crossings and abnormal gait) and mortality. The magnitude of effect depended on the concentration of ethanol administered. The concentration of mercury in the kidney and brain also increased with the dose of ethanol given. These findings indicate that epidemiologic studies designed to evaluate methyl mercury toxicity must take into account the multiple environmental burdens that can affect the population cumulatively and simultaneously.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Minamata Disease, Kumamoto, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5001530
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 18:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ETHANOL
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
MERCURY
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
METHYLMERCURY
TOXICITY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
INJURIES
BRAIN
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
KIDNEYS
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MORTALITY
ORAL ADMINISTRATION
RATS
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DATA
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)