title: The role of metallothioneins, selenium and transfer to offspring in mercury detoxification in Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei).
abstract: The concentrations of mercury (Hg), selenium (Se) and metallothioneins (MT) were evaluated in fetuses, calves, juveniles and adults of the endangered coastal Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Argentina. Mercury concentrations varied among analyzed tissues (liver, kidney, muscle and brain), with liver showing the higher concentrations in all specimens. An age-dependent accumulation was found in liver, kidney and brain. No significant relationship between Hg and MT concentrations was found for all tissues analyzed. Hepatic Hg molar concentrations were positively correlated with those of Se, indicating a great affinity between these two elements. Furthermore, dark granules of HgSe were observed in Kupffer cells in the liver by electron microscopy, suggesting the role of this macrophage in the detoxification of Hg. A transfer of Hg through placenta was proved. The presence of Hg in brain in all age classes did not show concentrations associated with neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: mabelenromero@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polizzi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiodi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Oceanology, MARE Center B6c, University of Liege, Liege 4000, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Toxicología Ambiental, Dpto. Ciencias Marinas, FCEyN, Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerpe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001118:Argentina; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004289:Dolphins / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008668:Metallothionein; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Kupffer cell; Mercury detoxification; Metallothioneins; Pontoporia blainvillei; Selenium