Effects of diet on mercury metabolism and excretion in mice given methylmercury: role of gut flora

Journal Article · · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1984.10545872· OSTI ID:5661650

Rowland, I R; Robinson, R D; Doherty, R A

Mice fed either (1) a pelleted rodent diet, (2) evaporated milk, or (3) a synthetic diet (high protein, low fat) exhibited different rates of whole body mercury elimination and fecal mercury excretion after exposure (per os) to methylmercuric chloride. The percentage of the total mercury body burden present as mercuric mercury was highest (35.3%) in mice fed the synthetic diet (which had the highest rate of mercury elimination) and lowest (6.6%) in the animals having the lowest mercury elimination rate (milk-fed mice). Mice fed the synthetic diet had lower mercury concentrations and had a higher proportion of mercuric mercury in their tissues than the mice from the other dietary groups. Treatment of the mice with antibiotics throughout the experimental period to suppress the gut flora reduced fecal mercury excretion and the dietary differences in whole body retention of mercury. Tissue mercury concentrations and proportion of organic mercury in feces, fecal contents, liver, and kidneys were increased by antibiotic treatment of mice fed the pelleted or synthetic diets. These results are consistent with the theory that demethylation of methylmercury by intestinal microflora is a major factor determining the excretion rate of mercury.

• Research Organization: British Industrial Biological Research Association, Carshalton, England
• OSTI ID: 5661650
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 39:6; 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
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY BURDEN
CLEARANCE
DATA
DIET
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EXCRETION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FECES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
INFORMATION
INGESTION
INTAKE
INTESTINES
KIDNEYS
LARGE INTESTINE
LIVER
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MERCURY
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
MICE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RETENTION
RODENTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
VERTEBRATES
WASTES