title: The nail as a noninvasive indicator of methylmercury exposures and mercury/selenium molar ratios in brain, kidney, and livers of Long-Evans rats.
abstract: Animal studies indicate that the toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposures increase when selenium (Se) status is low. Toxicity is directly proportional to Hg/Se molar ratios in critical tissues such as brain and increase dramatically as molar ratios exceed 1:1. In this study, we examined the nail as a biomonitor of Hg/Se molar ratios in kidney, liver, and brain tissues of weanling male Long-Evans rats fed controlled diets containing varying amounts of Se and MeHg. Linear regression analyses indicate that the natural log transform of the Hg/Se ratio in the nails is strongly related to the Hg/Se molar ratio in kidney, liver, and brain (p < 0.01 in all cases). The nail appears to be a reliably accurate noninvasive biomonitor of the Hg/Se molar ratio in tissues and should, therefore, be considered for use in human studies.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri Research Reactor, University of Missouri, Research Park Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: John Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: Laura Jean
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Carla Rae
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bodkin
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Nicholas V C
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Ralston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004032:Diet; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000737:chemistry*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium