Abstract
Mercuric chloride (MC), phenylmercuric chloride (PMC), ethylmercuric chloride (EMC), S-ethylmercuric cysteine (EMCys), and n-butylmercuric chloride (BMC) labeled with 203Hg were subcutaneously administered to rats, and the distribution and excretion of mercury were determined. In general, alkylmercury compounds (EMC, EMCys, and BMC) were excreted more slowly and were retained in higher concentration for a longer time in the body than MC and PMC. Several alkylmercury compounds revealed different metabolic behavior which depended on the carbon-chain length of the alkyl group. Distribution of mercury in the brain was found to depend on the structure of the mercury compounds. The relation between the neurotoxicity and the structure of the mercury compounds was discussed.
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