Sex and age differences in mercury distribution and excretion in methylmercury-administered mice

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398609530847· OSTI ID:5088758

Hirayama, K; Yasutake, A

Sex differences in mercury distribution and excretion after single administration of methylmercury chloride (MMC, 5 mg/kg were studied in mice. A sex difference in urinary mercury excretion was found in sexually mature mice (age of 7 wk) of C57BL/6N and BALB/cA strains. Males showed higher mercury levels in urine than females, though no significant difference was found in fecal mercury levels 24 h post exposure to MMC. The higher urinary excretion rates in males accounted for significant lowering of mercury levels in the brain, liver, and blood, but not in the kidney, which showed higher values. At 5 min, however, the sex difference was found only in the kidney, showing higher levels in males. Changes in mercury distribution with time were studied in C57BL/6N mice. The brain mercury increased in both sexes up to 3 d, and decreased only in males on d 5. Liver and blood mercury decreased with time in both sexes, and these were constantly higher in females than in males. Renal mercury in males decreased to similar levels to females on d 3. The sex differences at various ages were studied with C57BL/6N mice 24 h after dosing. Two-week-old mice did not show significant sex differences in the mercury distribution and excretion, and their urinary mercury levels were much lower as compared to the older mice. Urinary mercury excretion in both sexes increased at 4 wk of age and then decreased at 45 wk of age. At 4, 7, 10, and 45 wk of age, males showed higher urinary mercury levels than females. From these findings, it has been suggested that urinary mercury excretion may be related to sex hormones, especially androgens.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata City, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5088758
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 18:1; ISSN JTEHD
• 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.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FECES
GLANDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTAKE
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
MICE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RETENTION
RODENTS
SEX DEPENDENCE
SINGLE INTAKE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
URINE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES