title: Lactating and non-lactating rats differ in sensitivity to HgCl(2): Protective effect of ZnCl(2).
abstract: This work investigated zinc (Zn) and mercury (Hg) effects on oxidative parameters, markers of toxicity and metal levels in different tissues from non-lactating rats (NLR) and lactating rats (LR). Adult NLR and LR received ZnCl2 (27mg/kg) or saline (0.9%) subcutaneously and after 24h they received HgCl2 (5mg/kg) or saline (0.9%). Twenty four hours later, they were sacrificed and the preparation of biological material and biochemical analyses were performed. With respect to oxidative parameters, Hg exposure decreased kidney total SH levels from NLR and LR and hepatic catalase activity (not statistically significant) in NLR. Zinc pre-treatment partly prevented the decrease of kidney total SH levels in LR. Zinc per se increased hepatic non-protein SH levels of NLR and LR. Regarding toxicity markers, Hg exposure inhibited the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity from kidney and liver of NLR, inhibited serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity of LR and increased serum creatinine and urea levels of NLR and LR. Zinc pre-exposure prevented the enzymatic alterations caused by Hg. NLR and LR Hg exposed presented accumulation of mercury in the kidney, liver, blood and urine. Zinc pre-treatment prevented this accumulation partly in NLR liver and blood and completely in LR kidney and liver. These results show that NLR and LR are differently sensitive to HgCl2 and that ZnCl2 showed a promising effect against Hg toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitor Antunes
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Sirlene
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Porto
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ineu
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucélia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moraes-Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucieli Flores
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Siqueira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Ester
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D020011:Protective Agents; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; C016837:zinc chloride; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine; D002374:Catalase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Lactating rats; Mercury; Non-lactating rats; Zinc; δ-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase