Saline or plant-incorporated methylmercury effects on distribution, demethylation, and blood parameters in rats.

Abstract

The influence of diet is recognized as a significant factor in the expression of toxicity. This applies particularly to toxins like methylmercury (MeHg) which are metabolically incorporated into growing food plants and biotransformed within the plant before ingestion. Methylmercury in this form may influence the early physiological and biochemical events which lead to development of toxicity. In a previous study, a single dose of plant-incorporated methylmercury (MeHg) had a different route of distribution and accumulation in rat organs after 48 h than an equivalent dose of saline MeHg with the greatest accumulation being in red blood cells. Creatine, an important storage form of high energy phosphate in muscles is a primary indicator of erythropoietic dynamics under hypoxia, a sensitive indicator of hemolytic disease, red blood cell aging and impaired marrow efficiency. Since changes in creatine levels occur sooner than changes in other blood parameters, itself being neither synthesized nor metabolized by red blood cells, it can be used as a sensitive indicator of toxicity. The present work investigates the difference in a longer term, multiple-dose regime of saline or bean-incorporated MeHg ingestion with special attention being given to various blood parameters.