Methyl mercury inhibition of synaptosome protein synthesis: role of mitochondrial dysfunction

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(81)90158-4· OSTI ID:6194383

Cheung, M; Verity, M A

Possible modes of organic mercurial inhibition of synaptosome protein synthesis were investigated. CH/sub 3/HgCl inhibited protein synthesis in synaptosomes harvested from both neonatal and adult rat brain cortices. Maximum inhibition occurred when incubations were performed at low synaptosome concentrations (<1 mg/ml). There was only minor release of lactic dehydrogenase at mercurial concentrations producing marked inhibition of protein synthesis. No change was seen in synaptosome volume at 0 to 100 ..mu..M CH/sub 3/HgCl. Incubation of neonatal synaptosomes in a Na/sup +/-and K/sup +/-containing medium with increasing concentrations of CH/sub 3/HgCl produced a decrease in (K/sup +/) and increase in Na/sup +/ content. Addition of CH/sub 3/HgCl to a cell free, K/sup +/-dependent protein-synthesizing system containing brain microsomes from neonatal rats inhibited (/sup 3/H)leucine incorporation into protein. Incubation of synaptosomes in the presence of methyl mercury resulted in a dose-dependent decline in ATP. Such a decline in available ATP may account for the observed mercurial inhibition of synaptosomal protein synthesis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 6194383
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 24:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ATP
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
BRAIN
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYME INHIBITORS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
IONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METHYLMERCURY
MITOCHONDRIA
NEONATES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
NUCLEOTIDES
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
POTASSIUM IONS
PROTEINS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SODIUM IONS
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES