Distribution of mercury in rabbits subchronically exposed to low levels of radiolabeled methyl mercury.
The metabolism of methyl mercury (MeHg) has been studied in rabbits administered 203Hg-labeled methyl mercuric chloride, 0.125 mumol/kg body weight, twice a week for 9 weeks, by intravenous injection. Twelve weeks after cessation of treatment, about 54% of the administered dose had been excreted in faeces and 5% in urine. After one week, the highest concentration of 203Hg was found in fur (8.6 nmol Hg/g). Substantially lower concentrations were found in kidney (2.5 nmol/g), liver (0.9 nmol/g), brain (0.4 nmol/g), muscle (0.3 nmol/g) and blood (0.1 nmol/g). The rate of elimination of 203Hg from brain, muscle and blood was faster (t1/2 about 12 days) than that from kidney and liver (t1/2 about 28 days). The relative amount of inorganic Hg in kidney and liver increased with time after cessation of treatment. The highest fractions were 85 and 70%, respectively. In brain, no significant demethylation of MeHg could be detected.
Petersson
K
K
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Dock
L
L
Söderling
K
K
Vahter
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001822:Body Burden; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008631:Mercury Radioisotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D011817:Rabbits; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D008631:Mercury Radioisotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds