title: Subchronic treatment with mercuric chloride suppresses immune response, elicits behavioral deficits and increases brain serotonin and dopamine metabolism in rats.
abstract: In view of the neurotoxic effects of mercuric chloride the following study was designed to explore its effects on brain serotonin and dopamine metabolism. Mercuric chloride injected at a dose of 1 mg/ml/kg increased locomotor activity, decreased latency to move, corner sittings and food intake. A decrease of 33% of immune response was observed in mercuric chloride treated rats as evident from anti nuclear antibody (ANA) positive test. Neurochemical analysis revealed that mercuric chloride administration increased brain tryptophan concentrations 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid, while 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and Dopamine (DA) were decreased. The results also showed an increase in brain 5-HT and DA turnover rate in mercuric chloride injected rats. These increases in 5-HT and DA metabolism suggest that mercuric chloride may tend to contribute to anorexia and hyperactivity induced in drug administered rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Unit, University of Karachi, Karachi. hajra20052005@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hajra
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Saida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Darakhshan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Haleem
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012701:Serotonin; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D004298:Dopamine