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Neurotoxic effects of mercury: a review

Journal Article · · Environ. Res.; (United States)

The literature concerning the neurotoxic effects of mercury, biochemical, physiological, and morphological, is reviewed. Mercury was found to penetrate and damage the blood--brain barrier very rapidly, leading to a dysfunction of the blood--brain barrier system. Both biochemical and electron-microscopic histochemical analysis revealed that, intracellularly, mercury was bound to the membranous organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, nuclear envelopes and lysosomes. Only very minimal amounts of mercury were found within the nucleus. Biochemical and cytochemical studies also indicated that drastic reduction of neuronal RNA and protein synthesis occurred in mercury-intoxicated animals. A regain in the neuron RNA level was also observed in prolonged intoxication with mercuric bichloride. Disturbance of the enzymatic systems in the glycolytic pathway in the brain was also reported in mercury-poisoned animals. Neurophysiological study demonstrated abnormal excitation spikes in the mercury-intoxicated neurons. Pathological findings on Minamata disease were summarized. In experimental models, it was found that the sensory neurons in the spinal ganglia and granule cells in the cerebellum were most vulnerable to mercury poisoning. Degenerative changes in the nerve fibers were also observed. Based on the biochemical, physiological, and pathological findings on mercury intoxication, a working hypothesis on the pathogenetic mechanism of mercury on the nervous system is proposed.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Arkansas Medical School, Little Rock
OSTI ID:
5204469
Journal Information:
Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 14:3; ISSN ENVRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
550900 -- Pathology
551000 -- Physiological Systems
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER
BODY
BRAIN
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL NUCLEI
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CEREBELLUM
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
ENZYMES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LYSOSOMES
MEDICINE
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METALS
MITOCHONDRIA
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROLOGY
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHYSIOLOGY
PROTEINS
REVIEWS
RNA
SOMATIC CELLS
SPINAL CORD
SYNTHESIS
TOXICITY