title: Light and electron microscopic study of fetal lung following maternal exposure to methylmercuric chloride.
abstract: Varying dose levels of methylmercuric chloride (MMC), 1000 ppm (5 mg through 15 mg/kg of body weight), were administered via an intragastric tube to pregnant ICR Swiss/Webster mice on day 9 of gestation. The animals were killed on gestational day 18 and the fetuses removed. Fetal lung sections were processed for light and electron microscopy. A group of animals treated with physiological saline in a similar manner served as the controls. The fetal lungs from treated animals were hypoplastic and retarded in development. The severity of pulmonary changes increased with the dose-levels of MMC. Vacuolation and lysis of mitochondria were seen in fetal lungs. Mitochondrial damage increased in severity with dose-level of methylmercuric chloride.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Curle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Persaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; C004925:methylmercuric chloride