title: Zinc and N-acetylcysteine modify mercury distribution and promote increase in hepatic metallothionein levels.
abstract: This study investigated the ability of zinc (Zn) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing the biochemical alterations caused by mercury (Hg) and the retention of this metal in different organs. Adult female rats received ZnCl2 (27mg/kg) and/or NAC (5mg/kg) or saline (0.9%) subcutaneously and after 24h they received HgCl2 (5mg/kg) or saline (0.9%). Twenty-four hours after, they were sacrificed and analyses were performed. Hg inhibited hepatic, renal, and blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity, decreased renal total thiol levels, as well as increased serum creatinine and urea levels and aspartate aminotransferase activity. HgCl2-exposed groups presented an important retention of Hg in all the tissues analyzed. All pre-treatments demonstrated tendency in preventing hepatic δ-ALA-D inhibition, whereas only ZnCl2 showed this effect on blood enzyme. Moreover, the combination of these compounds completely prevented liver and blood Hg retention. The exposure to Zn and Hg increased hepatic metallothionein levels. These results show that Zn and NAC presented promising effects against the toxicity caused by HgCl2.
authors: Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Vitor Antunes
authors: VA
authors: Oliveira
authors: Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Cláudia Sirlene
authors: CS
authors: Oliveira
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Mesquita
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Taise Fonseca
authors: TF
authors: Pedroso
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Lidiane Machado
authors: LM
authors: Costa
authors: Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Tiago da Luz
authors: Tda L
authors: Fiuza
authors: Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: pereirame@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Maria Ester
authors: ME
authors: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014508:Urea; D008668:Metallothionein; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Mercury; Metallothionein; Non-protein SH; Total SH; Zinc and N-acetylcysteine; δ-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase