On-line species-unspecific isotope dilution analysis in the picomolar range reveals the time- and species-depending mercury uptake in human astrocytes.
In order to reveal the time-depending mercury species uptake by human astrocytes, a novel approach for total mercury analysis is presented, which uses an accelerated sample introduction system combined on-line with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer equipped with a collision/reaction cell. Human astrocyte samples were incubated with inorganic mercury (HgCl2), methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl), and thimerosal. After 1-h incubation with Hg(2+), cellular concentrations of 3 μM were obtained, whereas for organic species, concentrations of 14-18 μM could be found. After 24 h, a cellular accumulation factor of 0.3 was observed for the cells incubated with Hg(2+), whereas the organic species both showed values of about 5. Due to the obtained steady-state signals, reliable results with relative standard deviations of well below 5 % and limits of detection in the concentration range of 1 ng L(-1) were obtained using external calibration and species-unspecific isotope dilution analysis approaches. The results were further validated using atomic fluorescence spectrometry.
Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstr. 28/30, 48149, Münster, Germany.
Christoph A
CA
Wehe
Imke
I
Pieper
Michael
M
Holtkamp
Georgina M
GM
Thyssen
Michael
M
Sperling
Tanja
T
Schwerdtle
Uwe
U
Karst
D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002138:Calibration; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008629:Mercury Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012996:Solutions; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D008629:Mercury Isotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D012996:Solutions; D013849:Thimerosal; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; C004925:methylmercuric chloride