Tissue origin of MDH isozymes in blood serum of rats exposed to alkylmercurials.
Wistar rats were dosed with Hg at 2.5 mg kg-1 intragastrically as methylmercuric chloride (MeHg) or ethylmercuric chloride (EtHg) on alternate days for 6 weeks. Activities of the mitochondrial (m-MDH) and cytosol (c-MDH) isozymes of malate dehydrogenase (MDH: E.C. 1.1.1.37) were studied in the serum, liver and kidneys of rats at 2-week intervals using agar gel electrophoresis. In order to determine the tissue of origin of the MDH isozymes in rat serum, studies were also made on changes in their activities after poisoning the animals with a hepatotoxic (CCl4) or nephrotoxic (HgCl2) agent. The results indicate that the kidneys are responsible for the increase of the c-MDH activity in the serum of rats poisoned with EtHg, while in the case of MeHg this increase results from damage initially to the liver and then also to the kidneys.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009941:Organomercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013552:Swine
D007527:Isoenzymes; D009941:Organomercury Compounds; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase