• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.39-48
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to determine the mercury accumulated at maternal and fetal organs, and compare its levels between maternal and fetal organs on day 20 of gestation, in pregnant Fisher-344 rats which given orally methylmercuric chloride on day 7 of gestation. Pregnant rats were divided four groups by dose: control group, and methylmercuric chloride treatment groups of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. The results obtained are as follows: I The mercury concentrations in maternal organs were the highest in kidney, and followed by blood, spleen, liver and brain. 2. The slopes of regression equation among mercury dose levels in maternal organs were as follows: Kidney 3.62 (r$^2$=0.943), Blood 2.75 (r$^2$=0.941), Spleen 2.49 (r$^2$=0.990), Liver 1.13 (r$^2$= 0.949), Brain 0.33 (r$^2$=0.984). 3. The mercury concentrations in fetal organs and placenta were the highest in liver, and followed by kidney, placenta and brain. 4. The slopes of regression equation among mercury dose levels in fetal organs and placenta were as follows: Liver 1.79 (r$^2$= 0.968), Kidney 0.79 (r$^2$= 0.976), Placenta 0.68 (r$^2$= 0.920), Brain 0.52 (r$^2$= 0.978), All Body 0.58 (r$^2$= 0.941). 5. As to the mercury levels in kidney, dams were 4.8~14.9 times higher than fetus. But as to the mercury levels in liver and brain, fetus were 1.6~2.5 and 1.5~1.9 times higher than dams. In conclusion, the mercury which exposured to pregnant rats can easily pass through the placenta and accumulated in fetus, especially higher in fetal liver and brain.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1134-1137
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• 2002

To investigate the neurotoxic effect of organic chloride on cultured mouse cerebral neurons, cytotoxic effect was measured by MTT assay after cultured cerebral neurons were incubated with various concentrations of methyl mercuric chloride(MMC) for 24 hours. The protective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori(RPM) on MMC-induced neurotoxicity was also examined in these cultures. MMC decreased cell viability of cultured mouse cerebral neurons remarkably in a dose- and time-dependent manners. In protective effect of RPM it was remarkably effective in blocking the neuroxicity induced by MMC. From aboved the results, it is suggested that MMC induce neurotoxicity, and the herba extract, RPM is very effective in preventing MMC-induced cytotoxicity on cultured mouse cerebral neurons.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.412-415
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• 2003

In order to elucidate the mechanism between cytotoxicity of methhylmercuric chloride(MMC) and oxygen radicals in cultured osteoblasts of neonatal mouse, cell viability was measured by MTT assay in osteoblasts treated with 1～50 μM MMC for 30 hours. And also, the protective effect of N-methyl D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor antagonist, D-2-amino-5-phosphovaleric acid(APV) was examined by cell viability in these cultures. Cell viability was significantly decreased in dose dependently after exposure of 30 μM MMC to cultured osteoblasts for 30 hours. Protective effect of APV against MMC-mediated toxicity was very effective in these cultures. From above the results, it suggests that MMC is toxic in cultured mouse osteoblasts and NMDA receptor antagonist such as APV is effective in blocking the osteotoxicity induced by MMC.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 1997

Adult male ICR mice were exposed to methylmercuric chloride (CH$_3$HgCI) through drinking water for 80 days. The distribution of mercury in the kidney, liver, spleen and cerebellum of the mouse was examined according to a autometallographic silver-enhancement technique based on a physical development process which renders mercury deposit visible. Grains of mercury traces were located in the proximal convoluted tubules. Lesser staining of the grains was seen in the collecting tubules of medulla. The glomerular basement membrane was void. In the liver, mercury accumulations were present primarily in the hepatocytes around portal area containing interlobular bile duct, artery and portal vein. Also grains of mercury traces were accumulated in the white pulp of the spleen and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.551-561
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• 1998

The autometallographic method was used to demonstrate the localization of mercury deposits in spleen of mouse. The mercury deposits were identified with the light and electron mocroscope. Mice were treated with methylmercuric chloride in the drinking water (demineralized water) for 40 days. Control and mercury treated groups showed no significant differences in mean body weight and spleen weight per one mouse. Mercury grains were appeared in the germinal center of white pulp consist of a preponderancing lymphocytes, not in red pulp and capsule. At the ultrastructural level, mercury deposits were restricted to lysosomes of macrophage and lymphocyte. Specially, volume in lysosomes of the macrophage was increased. These results suggest that mercury localization in lysosomes is associated with the change of immune activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.811-818
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• 2018

This study was performed to investigate the localization and concentration changes of mercury compound in female reproductive organs with time. Methylmercuric chloride was subcutaneously injected weekly into pubescent female mice for 3 weeks. For the concentration changes of mercury with time, the mice were sacrificed at 10, 150, and 300 days post treatment (DPT). Body and organ weights were not significantly different between the control and mercury-treated groups, except for 10 DPT in body weight. Localization of accumulated mercury was identified by the autometallography method. Localization of mercury compounds in the uterus, ovary, and ovum was analyzed with a light microscope. In the uterus, mercury was densely located in the stroma cells and surface epithelium of the perimetrium at 10 DPT. Mercury concentration was decreased at 150 DPT and did not appear at 300 DPT. In the ovary, mercury particles were distributed in the stroma cells of the cortex region, cells of the theca around the follicle, and the corpus luteum at 10 DPT. Mercury was concentrated in the medulla region at 150 DPT and was not distributed at 300 DPT. In the ovum, mercury particles were mainly located in the marginal region at 10 and 150 DPT. Mercury concentration was decreased and evenly distributed at 300 DPT. These results suggest that hormone synthesis, implantation, and developing embryos will be affected by mercury compound in the female mouse.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the antitoxic effect of Oenanthe javanica extracts on orally administered mercury compound. Adult male ICR mice were exposed to methylmercuric chloride (CH3HgCl)through drinking water. The control, mercury treated and Oenanthe javanica treated groups not showed significant differences in mean body and organ weights of mice. The distribution of mercury in the cerebellum, kidney, liver and spleen of the mouse were examined according to a histochemical mathod. Grains of mercury traces were located in the purkinje cell and granular layers of the cerebellum and cortex of kidney respectively. Lesser staining of the grains was seen in the collecting tubules of medulla. in the liver, mercury accumulations were present primarily in the hepatocytes around portal area containing interlobular bile duct, artery and portal vein. Also grains of mercury traces were accumulated in the white pulp of the spleen. In the group of Oenanthe javanica extracts, staining intensity of mercury was decreased in the Purkinje cell layer of cerebellum and in the portal area of liver respectively. Staining patterns in kidney and spleen of extracts group were similar to that of only mercury treated group.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.175-181
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• 2015

In order to examine the effect of Smilax china L. (SC) extract on the cytotoxicity of methymercuric chloride (MMC), allergic contact dermatitis, The cytotoxicity of MMC was assessed after cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of MMC for 72 hours. And also, the following results were obtained by measuring the antioxidative effect of SC extract on the cytotoxicity of MMC. In this study, MMC remarkably decreased the cell viability of NIH3T3 fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, and MMC was seen to be highly-toxic below 100 uM of $XTT_{50}$ value. In addition, the toxicity of MMC was involved in oxidative stress via a blockage of MMC-induced cytotoxicity by vit. E as antioxidant. In the protective effect of SC extract on MMC-induced cytotoxicity, SC extract defended the cytotoxicity of MMC by a significant increase of cell viability which was decreased by MMC-induced cytotoxicity. It also showed antioxidative effects such as electron donating ability (EDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity (SLA) and the lipid peroxidation activity (LPA). From these results, the natural component as SC extract may be a putative resource as the antioxidative agent for the treatment of inflammatory skin disease associated with the oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 1994

Pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to methylmercury in the drinking water at concentration of 20ppm with subcutaneous treatment of thiaminHCl(vitamin $B_1$) (100mg, 200mg or 300mg/ kg b.w.) or BAL(5.0 mg/kg b.w.) under the alone or combined base at the therapeutic agents from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Fetal growth parameters, including body weight and crown-rump length in the mice exposed to mercury, were reduced as placental weight compared to those in the control group(no treatment). The incidence of dead fetuses/resorption and malformed fetuses(especially cleft palate) was also increased even in the group treated with thrapeutic agents as well as in the mercury only treated group. However, all kinds of alteration indicated above, possibly induced by mercury, reduced/or decreased significantly compared to those of control. A subtle indication of maternal toxicity was noted in most experimental animals as evidenced by decreased water consumption and increased relative liver weight. The present study confirmed that methylmercuric chloride is embrytoxic and teratogenic in CD-1 mice when administered during organogenesis and that thiamin administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment or prevention against of deleterious effects induced by mercury during gestation period.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.361-368
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• 1994

Teratogenic and embryotoxic effects of mercury have been reported, however, there is little information about possible antidotes against mercury exposure during gestation. In order to evaluate therapeutic effects of selenium as an antidote against mercury poisoning, pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to methylmercury chloride(20ppm) through the drinking water with treatment of sodium selenite (1.0mg, 2.0mg or 3.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) or BAL(5.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) under the single or combination base as the therapeutic agents from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Fetal growth parameters such as body weight and crown-rump length in the mice exposed to mercury, were reduced as was placental weight compared to those in the control. Treatment of selenium(alone, combination with BAL) reduced the harmful effects induced by mercury on the fetal growth parameters even though no specific relationship between dose and therapeutic effect. The incidence of dead fetuses/resorptions and malformed fetuses(especially cleft palate) was also increased in the mercury only treated group. Selenium treatment demonostrated reduced the incidence of abnormal fetuses under the exposure of mercury. Relative maternal organ weights(liver, kidney, spleen) were increased significantly but relative brain weight was decreased as evidenced by decreased in the mercury treated mice compared to that in the control. A subtle indication of maternal mercury toxicity evidenced by changes of relative maternal organ weights, decreased water and feed consumption were also prevented efficiently by selenium treatment. The present study suggests that methylmercuric chloride is embrytoxic and teratogenic in CD-1 mice when exposured during organogenesis and that selenium administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment of mercury poisoning although more applicable study in human should be performed with caution in the future.