Interaction of methyl mercury with erythrocytes
The uptake and release of /sup 203/Hg-labeled methyl mercury by red blood cells of the human adult was studied and some comparisons were made with human fetal and rat erythrocytes. Over the concentration range studied a rapid and virtually complete uptake followed exposure of erythrocytes to the mercurial. Methyl mercury distributes proportionately between intra- and extracellular hemoglobin, and various sulfhydryl agents elicit release from the cell, thus demonstrating the reversibility of binding. The rate of release to bovine serum albumin is inversely proportional to the amount of mercurial bound to the cell and to the period of incubation suggesting some form of intracellular compartmentation. Cysteine alone induces a transient release of methyl mercury from the erythrocyte but does not facilitate equilibrium with albumin. Rat red cells release much less methyl mercury to albumin than human red cells. This tighter binding could not be accounted for by differences in intracellular distribution of the mercurial or affinity for the respective hemoglobins from stromafree hemolysates. No obvious differences in binding were observed between human adult and fetal red cells. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Rochester, NY
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-027150
- OSTI ID:
- 4337659
- Report Number(s):
- UR--3490-165
- Journal Information:
- Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., v. 26, pp. 370-384, Journal Name: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., v. 26, pp. 370-384; ISSN TXAPA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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