Dietary selenium protection of methylmercury intoxication of Japanese quail

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01684595· OSTI ID:6425151

Stoewsand, G S; Bache, C A; Lisk, D J

Selenium, as sodium selenite, added at 5 ppm to purified diets of Japanese quail protected against methylmercury intoxication. Selenium fed simultaneously with methylmercury to quail for 9 weeks gave complete protection. However, feeding selenium with methylmercury for 4 weeks, followed by a diet containing only methylmercury, delayed the onset of methylmercury intoxication for 1-2 weeks as compared to quail not pretreated with selenium. On diets which contained 20 ppm of methylmercury but no selenium, over 90% mortality was observed for young quail within 2 weeks, and mature quail within 4 weeks. Methylmercury residues in liver, kidneys, and brain are higher in male than female quail. High methylmercury content of these organs, or in produced eggs, does not indicate that birds will show evidence of methylmercury toxicosis. 12 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Geneva, NY
• OSTI ID: 6425151
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 11:2; ISSN BECTA
• 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 EFFECTS
BIRDS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DIET
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
EGGS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GLANDS
INFORMATION
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METHYLMERCURY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SEX DEPENDENCE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES