Neurotoxicity of methylmercury in squirrel monkeys

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1975 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1975.10666717· OSTI ID:7366071

Berlin, M ^[1]; Grant, C A; Hellberg, J; Hellstom, J; Schutz, A

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1. Univ. of Lund, Sweden

Blood mercury was raised to levels exceeding 1,000 ng/gm by weekly oral doses of methylmercury hydroxide to squirrel monkeys. Operant behavior tests were employed and neurological signs were recorded on film. Sudden visual disturbance occurred with subacute exposure. Prolonged exposure resulted in impaired coordination with impairment of scotopic vision and possibly also sensory disturbances. Scotopic vision was tested by determining the critical fusion intensity (cfi) at 10 cps. An increase in cfi was the earliest neurological sign appearing in some monkeys months before other signs could be detected. Poisoned monkeys exhibited typical cerebral cortical lesions. The visual cortex was invariably involved. Extension to adjacent cortical areas increased with increasing duration of exposure and increasing brain mercury. The microgram per gram brain tissue was the lowest concentration of methyl-mercury seen with morphological lesions.

• OSTI ID: 7366071
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 30:7; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYL RADICALS
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CEREBRAL CORTEX
CEREBRUM
INGESTION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
METHYL RADICALS
METHYLMERCURY
MONKEYS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROLOGY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGY
PRIMATES
RADICALS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
VISION