Methylmercury effects in rat, hamster, and squirrel monkey

Journal Article · Tue Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1978 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(78)90073-7· OSTI ID:6736228

Hoskins, B B ^[1]; Hupp, E W

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1. Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA

The LD50/sub 24 hours/ of methylmercury chloride was estimated as 11.9 mg/kg in the rat 22.4 mg/kg in the hamster, and more than 17 mg/kg in the squirrel monkey. At 30 days, the LD50 was 10.1 mg/kg in the rat and 15.2 mg/kg in the hamster and was estimated as 4.7 to 6.4 mg/kg in the monkey. Motor symptoms such as hind-leg tucking when lifted by the tail were induced in the rat by five daily doses of 2 mg each, resulting in brain mercury levels above 8..mu..g/g of cerebral hemisphere or cerebellum, and more than 6 ..mu../g of pons and medulla. Levels of glycine, glutamate, aspartate, and ..gamma..-amino butyric acid (GABA) were unchanged from control levels. In monkeys, single doses of more than 3 mg/animal and five doses of 0.75 mg or more produced a neurological degenerative pattern at mercury levels greater than 8 ..mu..g/g of tissue. GABA was increased and glycine, glutamate, and aspartate were decreased in the brain tissue. Neither single nor repeated doses produced motor responses in the hamster prior to death.

• OSTI ID: 6736228
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN ENVRA
• 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.
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
HAMSTERS
MAMMALS
METHYLMERCURY
MONKEYS
MORTALITY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RATS
RODENTS
SQUIRRELS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES