Reduction of methylmercury concentration in neonatal rat brains after administration of dimercaptosuccinic acid to dams while pregnant.

Abstract

Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged on day 7 of gestation with 1.62, 3.23 or 10 mg methylmercury/kg. Beginning one day later, the dams were administered 0, 20 or 40 mg 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid/kg/day until they delivered their pups. Concentrations of methylmercury in the brains of pups whose dams were treated with 20 mg DMSA/kg/day were reduced 50% compared with control pups. 40 mg DMSA/kg/day decreased brain concentrations 70% compared to non-chelated controls. The data indicate that DMSA might be effective in protecting the developing organism against morphological and/or behavioral teratological consequences of methylmercury poisoning in utero.

• Authors: J A Hughes, S B Sparber
• Journal: Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology (Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 357-63 (Nov 1978) ISSN: 0034-5164 [Print] United States
• PMID: 216065 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Methylmercury Compounds
• Sulfhydryl Compounds
• Succimer

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn (metabolism)
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Female
• Male
• Methylmercury Compounds (metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Rats
• Succimer (pharmacology)
• Sulfhydryl Compounds (pharmacology)