Effect of methylmercury exposure on different neurotransmitter systems in rat brain.
The effect of methylmercury (4.0 mg/kg/day, for 50 days) exposure was studied on various neurotransmitter systems in hypothalamus, pons-medulla, brain-stem, and striatum of rats. Although methylmercury exposure resulted in marked increases in dopamine (DA) content of various brain regions and in the brain-stem or striatal norepinephrine (NE) level, the level of metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) was markedly decreased in the same regions. On the other hand, concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in various brain regions were considerably decreased in methylmercury-exposed rats. Similarly, the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level was markedly decreased in the hypothalamus, brain-stem, and striatum.
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D002395:Catecholamines; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D004298:Dopamine