Tissue content of mercury in rats given methylmercuric chloride orally: influence of intestinal flora

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1980.10667485· OSTI ID:5274602

Rowland, I R; Davies, M J; Evans, J G

The effect of intestinal flora on the absorption and disposition of mercury in tissues was investigated using conventional rats, and rats treated with antibiotics to eliminate their gut flora. Antibiotic-treated rats given (/sup 203/Hg) -labeled methylmercuric chloride orally had significantly more mercury in their tissues, especially in kidney, brain, lung, blood, and skeletal muscle, and also excreted less mercury in the feces than conventional rats. Furthermore, in the kidneys of the antibiotic-treated rats, the proportion of mercury present as organic mercury was greater than in the kidneys of the conventional rats. The results support the hypothesis that the metabolism of methylmercuric chloride by the gut flora reduces the tissue content of mercury. When rats were administered 10 mg methylmercuric chloride/Kg.day for 6 days, four or five of those given antibiotics developed neurological symptoms of toxicity, whereas only one of five conventional rats given methylmercuric chloride was affected.

• Research Organization: British Industrial Biological Research Association, Surrey, England
• OSTI ID: 5274602
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 35:3; ISSN AEHLA
• 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
ANTIBIOTICS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DATA
DATA FORMS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FECES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTESTINES
KIDNEYS
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SKELETON
TABLES
TISSUES
TOXICITY
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES