Mercury distribution studies involving complexes of low-molecular weight thiols and methylmercury

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01607855· OSTI ID:6787929

Balthrop, J E; Wade, J L; Braddon-Galloway, S

One of the metabolic roles of low molecular weight thiol compounds may be the formation of thiol-methylmercury complexes which can be preferentially translocated across cell membranes. The coadministration of equimolar amounts of the thiol, L-cysteine, with CH/sub 3/Hg increased the short-term accumulation of CH/sub 3/Hg in liver, kidneys and cerebrum, but reduced the level of CH/sub 3/Hg found in plasma. This modification of the distribution pattern of CH/sub 3/Hg by co-administering low molecular weight thiol compounds further suggests that thiol-methylmercury complexes may play a role in the tissue deposition process. In fact, treatment of rats with CH/sub 3/Hg has produced a low molecular weight CH/sub 3/Hg complex in cerebral cytosol. This complex accounted for approximately one-third of the soluble CH/sub 3/Hg and was identified by column chromatography and electrophoresis to be methylmercury-glutathione. The object of this study is to determine if CH/sub 3/Hg and thiol complexes of CH/sub 3/Hg are absorbed and distributed in a manner dependent upon the status of a known ameliorative agent of CH/sub 3/Hg toxicity, selenium.

• Research Organization: National Marine Fisheries Service, Charleston, SC
• OSTI ID: 6787929
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 37:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
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MERCURY 203
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
METHYLMERCURY
COMPLEXES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
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BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
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BODY
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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
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MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
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NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
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