title: Enhanced electroretinogram in cats induced by exposure to mercury acetate.
abstract: The present study was undertaken in order to verify whether, and how, retinal functions are affected by subacute poisoning with organic mercury. Mercury acetate in various concentrations (0.025-0.25 mg/kg per day) was injected subcutaneously every second day to adult cats (N = 20) throughout a 2.5-4.0-week period. The electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded and the Hg2+ concentrations in the blood were determined. In nearly 90% of the intoxicated cats an enhanced electroretinogram (scotopic b-wave amplitude) was found as compared to its level in the normal control cats (N = 10). The latency of the ERG was found to be appropriately shorter, up to a maximal difference of nearly 20% in comparison to the controls. Hg2+ was present in the blood of the exposed cats during a 2.5-month period following the exposure. It is concluded that exposure to mercury acetate induces a permanent increase in the excitability level of the cat's retina.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Health, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gitter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kariv
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yinon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury; C029823:mercuric acetate