Effect of mercuric chloride and methylmercury chloride exposure on tissue concentrations of six essential minerals

Conference · Mon Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1980 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5098673

Bogden, J D; Kemp, F W; Troiano, R A; Jortner, B S; Timpone, C; Giuliani, D

There are few data on the effects of mercury exposure on tissue concentrations of essential minerals. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to mercuric chloride and methylmercury chloride administered via the drinking water. Subsequently, the kidneys, spleen, liver, and brain were analyzed for mercury, calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Significant differences from controls were found for brain copper, kidney copper, and kidney zinc in the mercuric chloride-exposed animals; and for brain iron, kidney copper, kidney iron, kidney magnesium, spleen magnesium, and liver manganese in the methylmercury chloride-exposed rats. There was a fivefold higher mean kidney copper concentration in the mercuric chloride-exposed group; this may be related to the induction of renal metallothionein synthesis by mercury. Increased kidney copper may be a manifestation of heavy metal-induced renal toxicity. Both inorganic and methylmercury exposure produce significant changes in tissue concentrations of some essential minerals.

• Research Organization: New Jersey Medical School, Newark
• OSTI ID: 5098673
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN ENVRA
• 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.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CALCIUM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COPPER
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON
KIDNEYS
KINETICS
LIVER
MAGNESIUM
MAMMALS
MANGANESE
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METABOLISM
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
QUANTITY RATIO
RATS
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
SPLEEN
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
ZINC