Deposition of Mercury in Fetal and Maternal Brain

Yang, M. G.; Krawford, K. S.; Garcia, Joanna; Wang, J. H. C.; Lei, K. Y.

doi:10.3181/00379727-141-36920

Cited by 38 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(6 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It means that the present design of our study could not indicate a tendency that human fetal brain concentrates mercury. This is not in accord with the results of a number of experiments [14,16,22,26,27] showing a higher concentration of mercury in the fetal brain than in the maternal brain after maternal administration of mercury compounds during pregnancy.…”

Section: Commentcontrasting

confidence: 81%

Normal Mercury Level in Human Embryos and Fetuses

Nishimura¹,

Hirota²,

Tanaka³

et al. 1974

Neonatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The normal level of total mercury in human embryos and fetal organs (liver, kidney and cerebrum) was first indicated and it was shown that this metal is their constant component in the amount with an appreciable individual variability. As for the stage difference of the contents of the fetal organs, a significant decrease in the third-trimester liver compared to the second-trimester-liver was noted. The contents of the third-trimester liver and kidney were lower than the respective adult values. However, no significant difference of the levels was shown in the cerebrum throughout the period from fetal to adult stage, and this does not support the prevailing presumption that human fetal brain concentrates mercury. Little correlation between the mercury level in the maternal pubic hair and its level in the embryo was indicated.

show abstract

Section: Commentcontrasting

confidence: 81%

Normal Mercury Level in Human Embryos and Fetuses

Nishimura¹,

Hirota²,

Tanaka³

et al. 1974

Neonatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Five days after force-feeding the CH3203HgC1 to the mother rats, their brains contained 0.2 18% of the dose. The deposition of the radioactive mercury in the brain or individual brain parts is comparable to that found for rats force-fed the same mercury compound during gestation (10). 1).…”

supporting

confidence: 67%

Mammary Transfer of 203Hg from Mothers to Brains of Nursing Rats

Yang¹,

Wang²,

Garcia³

et al. 1973

Experimental Biology and Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The major routes of excretion of mercury by animals thus far studied are the kidney and gastrointestinal tract. However, lungs and mammary glands have also been known to excrete mercury (1). The mammary gland has been reported to contain radioactivity when mice were intravenously injected with 203HgC12 (2). Women (3, 4), guinea pigs2 and rats (5-7) have also been reported to secrete milk containing mercury. To our knowledge, studies to determine the quantitative transfer of mercury from lactating mothers to the nursing animals have not been reported although Trenholm et al. found from indirect evidences, insignificant concentration of mercury in guinea pigs' milk.2 Thus, our objectives were to determine quantitatively the transfer of 203Hg from mother to nursing pup and to determine the distribution of the 203Hg in various parts of maternal and pup brain.Methods. Four litters of 8 pups each of Sprague-Dawley rats at 16 days of age were allowed to suckle their own mothers. Each mother during the 16th day of lactation received a single oral dose of 30 pCi of 203Hg as CH3HgCl dissolved in 1 ml of corn oil. The specific activity of this compound was 2.25 mCi/mg Hg. When the pups were 17, 18, 19, and 21 days of age, 2 from each litter were killed. Mothers were killed at the same time as their last 2 progeny. All were killed by over-etherization and bled by an

show abstract

“…Mercury is readily transferred across the placenta, and concentrates selectively in the fetal brain. Yang et al (1972) found Hg concentrations in the fetal brain of rodents fed MeHg were twice as high as in the maternal brain. Reproductive effects of MeHg in mammals range from developmental alterations in the fetus, which produce behavioral or physical deficits after birth, to death (Chang et al 1974; Chang and Annau 1984; Eccles and Annau 1987; Khera 1979; Wren et al 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury in bats from the northeastern United States

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines mercury exposure in bats across the northeast U.S. from 2005 to 2009. We collected 1,481 fur and 681 blood samples from 8 states and analyzed them for total Hg. A subset (n = 20) are also analyzed for methylmercury (MeHg). Ten species of bats from the northeast U.S. are represented in this study of which two are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA 1973) and two other species are pending review. There are four objectives in this paper: (1) to examine correlates to differences in fur–Hg levels among all of the sampling sites, including age, sex, species, and presence of a Hg point source; (2) define the relationship between blood and fur–Hg levels and the factors that influence that relationship including age, sex, species, reproductive status, and energetic condition; (3) determine the relationships between total Hg and MeHg in five common eastern bat species; and (4) assess the distribution of Hg across bat populations in the northeast. We found total blood and fur mercury was eight times higher in bats captured near point sources compared to nonpoint sources. Blood–Hg and fur–Hg were well correlated with females on average accumulating two times more Hg in fur than males. On average fur MeHg accounted for 86 % (range 71–95 %) of the total Hg in bat fur. Considering that females had high Hg concentrations, beyond that of established levels of concern, suggests there could be negative implications for bat populations from high Hg exposure since Hg is readily transferred to pups via breast milk. Bats provide an integral part of the ecosystem and their protection is considered to be of high priority. More research is needed to determine if Hg is a stressor that is negatively impacting bat populations.

show abstract

Deposition of Mercury in Fetal and Maternal Brain

Cited by 38 publications

References 6 publications

Normal Mercury Level in Human Embryos and Fetuses

Normal Mercury Level in Human Embryos and Fetuses

Mammary Transfer of 203Hg from Mothers to Brains of Nursing Rats

Mercury in bats from the northeastern United States

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About