Effects of methylmercury on human fetal neurons and astrocytes in vitro: a time-lapse cinematographic, phase and electron microscopic study
Time-lapse cinematography of organotypic cultures of human fetal cerebrum demonstrated cessation of neuronal migration following the addition of 0.02 mM methylmercuric chloride (MMC) to the culture medium. This was due to rapid cytotoxic effects of MMC characterized by cessation of filopodial activity, focal swelling, and partial fragmentation of neurites. Separation of the membrane from neurites associated with marked swelling of the matrix was prominent, especially at growth cones. Soon total fragmentation occurred at these sites resulting in separation of degenerated neurites from neuronal cell bodies in 1 to 4 h. Addition of 0.1 mM MMC caused fragmentation and separation of neurites from most neuronal cell bodies in approximately 40 min while exposures to 0.2 mM MMC caused a similar phenomenon in approximately 20 min. The cytotoxic effect of MMC was stopped immediately and further degeneration did not occur when cultures exposed to MMC were washed and replaced with normal complete culture medium. When mercury was given in a highly polar sulfonic acid form (p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid) the membrane of neurites and astrocytes remained intact, indicating that penetration of the membrane by mercury is necessary to initiate the toxic effects of MMC. At the ultrastructural level damage to plasma membranes and neurotubular injury are conspicuous early features of methylmercurytoxicity, taking place more rapidly in neurons than astrocytes, and eventuating in irreversible degeneration of both cell types.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY
- OSTI ID:
- 6537001
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 24:1; Conference: 55. annual meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists, Kansas City, MO, USA, 7 Jun 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
METHYLMERCURY
TOXICITY
NERVE CELLS
SENSITIVITY
ANIMAL CELLS
CELL MEMBRANES
CULTURE MEDIA
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FETUSES
FRAGMENTATION
IN VITRO
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
TIME DEPENDENCE
CELL CONSTITUENTS
MEMBRANES
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
SOMATIC CELLS
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
550900 - Pathology