Whole body and liver distribution of inhaled mercury vapor in the mouse: Influence of ethanol and aminotriazole pretreatment

Abstract

Inhalation of radioactive metallic mercury vapor (203Hg0) in the mouse resulted in an accumulation of mercury in several organs where no specific uptake was observed after i.v. injection of inorganic mercury (203Hg2+). This was true for the whole respiratory epithelium (including the lung parenchyma), myocardium, brain, retina of the eye, adrenal cortex, corpora lutea of the ovary, epididymis, brown fat and thyroid gland. It is assumed that these organs have a high capacity for oxidizing Hg0 to Hg2+, which will then be retained in the tissues. Ethanol and aminotriazole (catalase inhibitors) decreased the concentration in several of these organs, although not in an exactly similar pattern. In the livers of non-treated animals, most of the inhaled mercury accumulated in the hepatocytes in the periphery of the lobuli (periportal region), close to where the blood vessels enter the liver parenchyma. Treatment with ethanol or aminotriazole increased the liver mercury content, with more or less all the hepatocytes apparently engaged in the oxidation of Hg0.

A stereological and histopathological study of the effects of exposure of male rat testes to mercury vapor

“…Elimination of Hg from the body generally is slow (Sallsten et al 1994). Approximately 80% of inhaled Hg is absorbed by the lung; it is transported through blood and accumulates in the testis (Khayat and Dencker 1983) and semen (Leung et al 2001). Occupational exposure to Hg 0 disrupts DNA repair (Cebulska-Wasilewska et al 2005).…”

Toxic Effects of Chronic Mercury Exposure on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Macular and Choroidal Thickness in Industrial Mercury Battery Workers

“…In a study by Kairada et al, active accumulation of mercury in the lens was observed after exposure to mercury [32]. In their experimental study, Khavat and Dencker [33,34] found mercury in the receptor layers, pigment epithelium, and choroid in mice immediately killed after exposure. Additionally, Warfvinge et al [4] observed mercury in choroidal and retinal pigment epithelium, in ganglion cell layers, and in the optic disc layer and optic nerve in squirrel monkeys after mercury exposure.…”

Mercury hazard in pediatric practice

“…Apesar de ser eliminado pelas vias renal, intestinal, biliar e pelo suor, o mercúrio metálico acumula-se no sistema nervoso, facilitado por uma meia-vida muito longa, afetando o controle de centros motores 15 . Khayat e Decker 16 demonstraram que o cérebro de camundongos acumula 10 vezes mais mercúrio após a exposição aos seus vapores do que a mesma quantidade de sais de mercúrio (iontes) injetada ou ingerida. Certas áreas do cérebro acumulam mais mercúrio do que outras.…”