Distribution and retention of organic and inorganic mercury in methyl mercury-treated neonatal rats

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(88)80021-5· OSTI ID:6556772

Thomas, D J; Fisher, H L; Sumler, M R; Hall, L L; Mushak, P

Seven-day-old Long Evans rats received one mumol of /sup 203/Hg-labeled methyl mercury/kg sc and whole body retention and tissue distribution of organic and inorganic mercury were examined for 32 days postdosing. Neonates cleared mercury slowly until 10 days postdosing when the clearance rate abruptly increased. During the interval when whole body clearance of mercury was extremely slow, methyl mercury was metabolized to inorganic mercury. Peak concentration of mercury in kidney occurred at 2 days postdosing. At 32 days postdosing, 8% of mercury in kidney was in an organic from. Liver mercury concentration peaked at 2 days postdosing and organic mercury accounted for 38% at 32 days postdosing. Brain concentrations of mercury peaked at 2 days postdosing. At 10 days postdosing, organic mercury accounted for 86% of the brain mercury burden, and, at 32 days postdosing, for 60%. The percentage of mercury body burden in pelt rose from 30 to 70% between 1 and 10 days postdosing. At 32 days postdosing pelt contained 85% of the body burden of mercury. At all time points, about 95% of mercury in pelt was in an organic form. Compartmental analysis of these data permitted development of a model to describe the distribution and excretion of organic and inorganic mercury in methyl mercury-treated neonatal rats.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6556772
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 47:1; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY BURDEN
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MERCURY
MERCURY 203
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METABOLISM
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
NEONATES
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RETENTION
RODENTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES