Mercury in the spinal cord after inhalation of mercury.
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol
; 111(2): 126-32, 2012 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22364490
ABSTRACT
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects anterior horn cells of the spinal cord causing an indolent slow and steady deterioration of muscle strength leading inevitably to death in respiratory failure. ALS is a model condition for neurodegenerative disorders. Exposure to different agents dispersed in the environment has been suggested to cause neurodegeneration but no convincing evidence for such a link has yet been presented. Respiratory exposure to metallic mercury (Hg(0)) from different sources may be suspected. Body distribution of metallic mercury is fast and depends on solubility properties. Routes of transport, metabolism, excretion and biological half-life determine the overall toxic effects. Inhalation experiments were performed in 1984 where small marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) were exposed to (203) Hg(0 vapour) mixed into the breathing air (4-5 µg/l). After 1 hr of exposure, they were killed and whole body autoradiograms prepared to study the distribution of mercury within organs. Autoradiograms showed that Hg was deposited inside the spinal cord. Areas of enhanced accumulation anatomically corresponding to motor nuclei could be observed. This study describes a reinvestigation, with new emphasis on the spinal cord, of these classical metal exposure data in a primate, focusing on their relevance for the causation of neurodegenerative disorders. A comparison with more recent rodent experiments with similar findings is included. The hypothesis that long-time low-dose respiratory exposure to metals, for example, Hg, contributes to neurodegenerative disorders is forwarded and discussed.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Médula Espinal
/
Mercurio
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol
Asunto de la revista:
FARMACOLOGIA
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Suecia