Fetal distribution of mercury following introduction of methylmercury into porcine maternal circulation

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398209530243· OSTI ID:6169427

Kelman, B J; Walter, B K; Sasser, L B

Tissue samples were obtained from 115 swine fetuses from 10 litters and analyzed for tissue-bound Hg 24 h after mothers were exposed to low levels of methylmercury by iv injection. Absorption of Hg by the fetus and placenta increased throughout gestation in concert with increasing fetal weight, as did fetal hepatic Hg. Fetal renal Hg increased throughout gestation, but the increase appeared to be much greater than would be expected on the basis of weight increase alone. Blood Hg concentrations did not change significantly. Fetal brain Hg content and concentration increased dramatically toward the end of pregnancy, the gestational period during which the rate of brain growth is greatest in swine. The finding that a period of increased Hg concentration in brain corresponded with the period of maximal brain growth velocity is particularly interesting because of the hypothesis that the brain is especially sensitive to nutritional and, presumably, toxicological perturbation while it is growing most rapidly.

• Research Organization: Comparative Animal Research Lab., Oak Ridge, TN
• OSTI ID: 6169427
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 10; ISSN JTEHD
• 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.
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHROMIUM 51
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FETAL MEMBRANES
FETUSES
GLANDS
GROWTH
HEAVY NUCLEI
INJECTION
INTAKE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTRAVENOUS INJECTION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
KIDNEYS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIVER
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MERCURY
MERCURY 203
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PLACENTA
RADIOISOTOPES
SWINE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES