title: Hematotoxicity and genotoxicity of mercuric chloride following subchronic exposure through drinking water in male rats.
abstract: Erythrocytes are a convenient model to understand the subsequent oxidative deterioration of biological macromolecules in metal toxicities. The present study examined the variation of hematoxic and genotoxic parameters following subchronic exposure of mercuric chloride via drinking water and their possible association with oxidative stress. Male rats were exposed to 50 ppm (HG1) and 100 ppm (HG2) of mercuric chloride daily for 90 days. A significant dose-dependent decrease was observed in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration in treated groups (HG1 and HG2) compared with controls. A significant dose-dependent increase was observed in lipid peroxidation; therefore, a significant variation was found in the antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Interestingly, mercuric chloride treatment showed a significant dose-dependent increase in frequency of total chromosomal aberration and in percentage of aberrant bone marrow metaphase of treated groups (p < 0.01). The oxidative stress induced by mercury treatment may be the major cause for chromosomal aberration as free radicals lead to DNA damage. These data will be useful in screening the antioxidant activities of natural products, which may be specific to the bone marrow tissue.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology, Faculty of Sciences, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boujbiha
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.forename: Abdelraouf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Feleh
authors.forename: Mongi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saoudi
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamoun
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bousslema
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ommezzine
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fakhfakh
authors.forename: Abdelfattah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Feki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D053878:Hemolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D006454:Hemoglobins; D053878:Hemolytic Agents; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D010088:Oxidoreductases