Chronic methylmercury exposure in the monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1977.10667268· OSTI ID:5262777

Luschei, E; Mottet, N K; Shaw, C M

Small daily doses of methylmercury hydroxide were administered to rhesus monkeys for periods of up to 17 months. Behavioral tests of peripheral vision and of the accuracy and rapidity of hand movements did not disclose any early subtle deficits preceding the onset of obvious signs of neurotoxicity. These signs appeared suddenly and involved reduced food intake (anorexia), clumsiness of jumping, loss of fine control of the digits, and uncoordinated mastication. With a constant daily dose of 0.1 mg/kg or less, blood concentration of mercury reached a peak after about 2 months, and then decreased to about half the peak value. Subsequently, increasing the daily dose level above 0.1 mg/kg (range of 0.12 to 0.21 mg/kg) produced an increase of blood concentration which tended to stabilize in the range of 2.0 to 2.5 ppM. After several months at these elevated concentrations all animals exhibited signs of neurotoxicity.

• OSTI ID: 5262777
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 32:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
METHYLMERCURY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BLOOD
CHRONIC INTAKE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
MACACUS
MONKEYS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
REFLEXES
TOXICITY
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)