[The effect of inorganic mercury on placental amino acid transport using microvillous membrane vesicles].
To study the toxic effect of inorganic mercury on the placenta we elucidate the effect of inorganic mercury on placental amino acid transport using microvillous membrane vesicles isolated from human normal full term placenta. The transport of amino acids into microvillous membrane vesicles was studied by a rapid filtration technique using a millipore filter. The transport of L-alanine across placental microvillous membrane was Na+ electrochemical gradient dependent and 0.1 mM inorganic mercury inhibited 77% of this Na+ dependent L-alanine transport and 1 mM inorganic mercury inhibits 90% of this Na+ dependent L-alanine transport. The transport of L-lysine across microvillous membrane vesicles was sodium independent and 0.1 mM inorganic mercury inhibited 34% of this transport and 1 mM inorganic mercury inhibited 50% of this transport. These results indicated that one of the toxic effects of inorganic mercury on placenta-fetus unit was the inhibition of placental nutrient transport.
D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008851:Micropore Filters; D008871:Microvilli / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D000596:Amino Acids; D008628:Mercury; D008239:Lysine; D000409:Alanine