title: Methylmercury and brain development: A review of recent literature.
abstract: Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent environmental pollutant, which elicits significant toxicity in humans. The central nervous system (CNS) is the primary target of toxicity, and is particularly vulnerable during development. Maternal exposure to MeHg via consumption of fish and seafood can have irreversible effects on the neurobehavioral development of children, even in the absence of symptoms in the mother. It is well documented that developmental MeHg exposure may lead to neurological alterations, including cognitive and motor dysfunction. The neurotoxic effects of MeHg on the developing brain have been extensively studied. The mechanism of toxicity, however, is not fully understood. No single process can explain the multitude of effects observed in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity. This review summarizes the most current knowledge on the effects of MeHg during nervous system development considering both, in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Considerable attention was directed towards the role of glutamate and calcium dyshomeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as the effects of MeHg on cytoskeletal components/regulators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. Electronic address: Alessandra.antunes@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antunes Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Appel Hort
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Culbreth
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Caridad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Granero
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joao B T
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. Electronic address: Michael.aschner@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Developmental neurotoxicity; Mechanisms; Methylmercury