The metabolism of methoxyethylmercury salts.
The metabolism of methoxy[(14)C]ethylmercury chloride in the rat has been investigated. After a single subcutaneous dose a small proportion is excreted unchanged in urine and a larger amount in bile with some resorption from the gut. The greater part of the dose is rapidly broken down in the tissues with a half-time of about 1 day to yield ethylene and inorganic mercury. Ethylene is exhaled in the breath and the mercury migrates to the kidney and is excreted in urine. A small proportion of the dose appears as carbon dioxide in the breath and about 12% in urine as a mercury-free metabolite. It is possible that the breakdown of methoxyethylmercurychloride to ethylene and inorganic mercury is not catalysed by an enzyme system.
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007668:Kidney / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012119:Respiration
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005030:Ethylenes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008628:Mercury