Effects of mercury ingestion on hepatic mitochondrial membranes of chicks
Cytochrome c oxidase activity was measured in livers of chicks receiving 0, 200, 250 or 300 P.P.M. mercury (as HgCl/sub 2/) in the drinking water beginning at one week of age. In the first experiment treatment with 200 P.P.M. mercury for up to 4 weeks tended to increase the activity of cytochrome c oxidase and decrease the proportion of free (measured in untreated liver preparations) to total (measured in Triton X-100 treated liver preparations) enzyme activity as compared with controls. However, the differences, which appeared after 1 week of treatment were not always statistically significant. The fatty acid composition of mitochondrial lipids was not affected by treatment with 200 P.P.M. mercury for 4 weeks. In the second experiment, treatment with 300 P.P.M. mercury for 4 weeks resulted in significantly higher total cytochrome c oxidase specific activity and a significantly lower proportion of free to total enzyme activity as compared with controls. However, mitochondrial susceptibility to rupture by freezing and thawing was not affected. In the third experiment chicks were given 250 P.P.M. mercury in the drinking water from 1 through 9 weeks of age. The mercury-treated chicks exhibited severe tremors at 9 weeks while the controls were unaffected. Cytochrome c oxidase total specific activity was significantly reduced in trembling chicks, and the proportion of free to total enzyme activity was significantly increased as was the susceptibility of isolated mitochondria to rupture by freezing and thawing. 19 references, 4 tables.
- Research Organization:
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh
- OSTI ID:
- 5661257
- Journal Information:
- Poult. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Poult. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 55:6; ISSN POSCA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIRDS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHICKENS
CYTOCHROME OXIDASE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DRINKING WATER
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FOWL
FREEZING
GLANDS
HAEM DEHYDROGENASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INGESTION
INTAKE
LIPIDS
LIVER
MEMBRANES
MERCURY
METALS
MITOCHONDRIA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SENSITIVITY
THAWING
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER