Autometallographic tracing of Hg-S quantum dots in frogs exposed to inorganic mercury.
The histochemical distribution of mercury in the kidneys and gut of frogs (Rana ridibunda) exposed to inorganic mercury was analyzed with autometallography (AMG). It was found that most mercury in the kidneys accumulated in the proximal convoluted tubules as Hg-S nanocrystal, while control animals were totally void of AMG grains. In the gut the highest concentration of mercury was observed in the large intestine. The AMG grains were primarily located in the apical part of the absorptive cells, although rather high concentrations of silver enhanced mercury quantum dots were also detected in a special cell type of gut epithelium and the glycocalyx. A certain amount of AMG grains were detected in the lumen of the gut. We hypothesize that this pool of quantum dots results from sloughed off epithelial cells and macrophages. Such still intact cells and red blood cells containing AMG grains were also found in the lumen of the gut.
Loumbourdis
Nikolaos S
NS
Department of Zoology, University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. loubourd@bio.auth.gr
Danscher
G
G
D000818:Animals; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D045663:Quantum Dots; D011898:Ranidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D013455:Sulfur; D008628:Mercury