Chronic neurotoxic effects of methyl mercury in miniature swine

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Proc World Vet Congr; ()

OSTI ID:5117759

Miller, E; Earl, F L; Sapienza, P; Monlux, W; Weinberger, M; Loon, E J

Methyl mercuric chloride administered to miniature pigs at levels of 1000 and 2000 mcg/kg/day produced paraplegia followed by convulsions and death within 1 month and no visual impairment was discerned. At the level of 250 mcg/kg/day paraplegia, convulsions and death occurred in 45 to 75 days and visual impairment in these animals, if any, preceded death by a few days. At levels of 100 mcg/kg/day, blindness preceded paraplegia followed by convulsion and subsequent death in 6-12 months. Fifty mcg/kg/day of methyl mercuric chloride administered daily produced blindness within 8-10 months. Besides the pig's trying to feel its way in an open field by sniffing, the only other overt symptom was the diminished response to auditory stimuli. No other overt toxicity has been observed after 3 years of administration. The minipigs treated with 50 mcg/kg/day of methyl mercuric chloride were bred from 1-3 times. In each instance the blind sows were capable of raising their offspring. The litters obtained from the methyl mercury-treated minipigs did not show any overt signs of methyl mercury intoxication, although analysis showed the presence of mercury in blood and central nervous system tissue. However, the levels of methyl mercury in the tissue of the offspring were only a fraction of the mercury level found in the blood and tissue of the mercury-treated sows.

• Research Organization: Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5117759
• Journal Information: Proc World Vet Congr; (), Journal Name: Proc World Vet Congr; () Vol. 20:3
• 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 MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DEATH
DISTRIBUTION
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
INJURIES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METHYLMERCURY
MINIATURE SWINE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
PROGENY
SWINE
SYMPTOMS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES