title: Determination of methyl- and ethylmercury in rat blood and tissue samples by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.
abstract: A precise and accurate method has been developed for the determination of either methyl- or ethylmercury in the blood and tissue of rats using capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The biological sample was spiked with an internal standard (methyl- or ethylmercury chloride) and after treatment with sodium thiosulphate and cupric bromide the alkylmercurials were extracted into benzene as their bromide derivatives and analysed on an OV-275 glass capillary column. The sensitivity and selectivity of the method enabled determinations to be made on small volumes of blood and tissue homogenates. The method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats dosed orally with 8 mercury as methylmercury chloride or ethylmercury chloride.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008631:Mercury Radioisotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds; D008631:Mercury Radioisotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds