Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic mercury species, which can cause many systemic damages, but little is known about its effect in the salivary glands. This study aimed to analyze the mercury levels, oxidative stress, and proteomic profile in parotid, submandibular, and sublingual salivary glands of rats, after chronic MeHg intoxication. Two groups of twenty male Wistar rats (90 days of age) were used on the experiment. MeHg group was intoxicated by intragastric gavage with MeHg at a dose of 0.04 mg/kg/day for 60 days, while the control group received only oil. After the period of intoxication, the glands were collected for evaluation of total mercury levels, proteomic profile, and oxidative balance by analyzing the antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and nitrite levels. Our results have showed that mercury levels were significant in all three glands compared to the respective control. It also showed lower levels of ACAP, as well as higher LPO and nitrite levels. The proteomic profile presented impairments on structural components of cytoskeleton, metabolic pathways, and oxidative biochemistry. Thus, the exposure to MeHg was able to generate oxidative stress that could be associated with changes in the proteomic profile of salivary glands.
Highlights
Mercury is a high toxic metal with a wide distribution on nature and has been considered as an important health concern [1, 2]
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the chronic exposure to low doses of MeHg is able to impair biochemical parameters and the proteomic profile, which could be related to dysfunctions in the organs
After the 60th day of MeHg exposure, a significantly Hg deposit in all three types of rat glands compared to the control groups
Summary
Mercury is a high toxic metal with a wide distribution on nature and has been considered as an important health concern [1, 2]. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment on organic and inorganic forms, in which methylmercury (MeHg) and mercury chloride (HgCl2) are the most toxic forms, respectively. The anthropogenic action leads to higher concentrations on biosphere and may expose animals of aquatic food chain to damage [5]. Many researches have reported that fishes and other seafood are the main sources of human contamination by low daily doses, in which about 90% of Hg is present on its organic form, leading to higher bioaccumulation and biomagnification [6, 7]. Few studies [12,13,14] have demonstrated the effects of Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
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