Effects of mercury and selenium on serum transaminase levels of quail, hens and rats

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Nutr. Rep. Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5010715

Welsh, S O; Soares, Jr, J H; Stilling, B R; Lagally, H

Three studies were conducted in an effort to quantitatively evaluate some of the early effects and nutrient interactions of methyl mercury (CH/sub 3/-Hg) in Cotournix quail, Leghorn hens, and Sprague-Dawley rats. Mercury was added to the diets at levels ranging from 0.5 to 32 ppm. In addition, selenium (Se), cystine, and fish protein concentrate were added in various combinations to some of the diets to test their effectiveness in alleviating Hg toxicity. Sera were analyzed for serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). Results show that SGPT provided little information about the onset of CH/sub 3/-Hg toxicity. SGOT activity proved to be a more responsive test and generally paralleled other indications of CH/sub 3/-Hg toxicity such as weight loss, nervous tremor, and abnormal egg production. In all instances, the highest dietary levels of CH/sub 3/-Hg resulted in significantly higher SGOT levels when there was no supplemental Se or cystine in the diet. However, two serious problems encountered with the measurement of SGOT as a test for CH/sub 3/-Hg toxicity were: (1) variability within treatments and (2) the inability to detect elevations in enzyme levels before the animals were exhibiting nervous system degeneration.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Maryland, College Park
• OSTI ID: 5010715
• Journal Information: Nutr. Rep. Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Nutr. Rep. Int.; (United States) Vol. 8:6; ISSN NURIB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
BLOOD SERUM
BODY
CHICKENS
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
EGGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION III
FOWL
GLANDS
INFORMATION
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MALFORMATIONS
MAMMALS
MARYLAND
MERCURY
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RATS
RODENTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
USA
VERTEBRATES