Effects of inorganic mercury on the olfactory pits of zebrafish larvae.
Mercury compounds are highly toxic; due to the rising levels of mercury pollution, both human and environmental exposure to mercury are increasing. Occupational exposure to inhaled mercury can be high, causing adverse effects not only in the lungs, but in the olfactory system as well. Olfaction plays a critical role in the survival of fish and other vertebrates, and impaired olfaction can substantially impact human quality of life. We present a study of the effects of mercury exposure in the olfactory pits of zebrafish larvae using a combination of X-ray fluorescence imaging and immunohistochemistry. We show that mercury accumulates in the sensory cells of the olfactory pits and also that it may also damage primary neurons, such as those that innervate olfactory pits.
Molecular and Environmental Science Research Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada. g.george@usask.ca and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
Tracy C
TC
MacDonald
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
Nicole J
NJ
Sylvain
Molecular and Environmental Science Research Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada. g.george@usask.ca and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
Ashley K
AK
James
Molecular and Environmental Science Research Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada. g.george@usask.ca and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada and Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, Canada.
Ingrid J
IJ
Pickering
Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
Patrick H
PH
Krone
Molecular and Environmental Science Research Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada. g.george@usask.ca and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada and Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, Canada.
Graham N
GN
George
D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects*; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*
D008628:Mercury