Tritiated methylmercury in the brain of squirrel monkeys

Journal Article · Sun Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1975 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1975.10666786· OSTI ID:7265233

Berlin, M ^[1]; Blomstrand, C; Grant, C A; Hamberger, A; Trofast, J

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1. Univ. of Lund, Sweden

Tritiated methylmercury hydroxide (MeHgOH) with a specific activity of 306 curies/mol was synthesized by a Grignard reagent from tritiated methyl iodide with a yield of 70 percent. Tritiated MeHg was given to squirrel monkeys by stomach tube in weekly doses of 0.8 mg/kg. The animals were killed after one dose or six doses. The distribution of the substance in the brain was then studied by microautoradiography and by fractionation of brain tissue into cellular and subcellular fractions. Part of the MeHg in the brain is in a water-soluble form. Methylmercury was found autoradiographically mainly in the neuropile of the cortex. At subtoxic dose (one dose), more protein-bound radioactivity was found in the glial fraction than in the neuronal fraction. At toxic dose (six doses), the protein-bound fraction of MeHg increased significantly (P < .02) in the neurons relative to nontoxic dose (one dose). Methylmercury was demonstrated autoradiographically in damaged neurons but not in undamaged neurons. (auth)

• OSTI ID: 7265233
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 30:12; ISSN AEHLA
• 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.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CEREBRAL CORTEX
CEREBRUM
DISEASES
DISTRIBUTION
DOSE RATES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METHYLMERCURY
MONKEYS
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PRIMATES
SOMATIC CELLS
TOXICITY
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES