• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 1995

In an attempt to define the effects of biphenyldimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) on the lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radical scavenging enzymes activities in mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxic rats, we studied malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver of the rats at 24 hr after the injection of mercuric chloride. Sprague-Dalwey albino rats were injected subcutaneously with mercuric chloride (5 mg/kg) only and mercuric chloride (5 mg/kg) plus. DDB (200 mg/kg/day, p.o) is administered for 4 days prior to 3 days from the injection of mercuric chloride. The group treated with mercuric chloride showed significantly higher MDA level and lower catalase and SOD activities as compared with that of control group. The group treated with mercuric chloride plus DDB showed significantly lower MDA level and catalase activity and higher SOD activity as compared with that of mercuric chloride-treated group. These results suggest that the excessive oxygen free radicals resulting from the depression of superoxide dismutase activity is an important determinant in the pathogenesis of mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxicity and DDB has antioxidant effects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.298-302
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• 1994

Wistar albino rats were injected subcutaneously with mercuric chloride (5 mg/kg) to define the early biochemical determinants that participate in the pathogenesis of mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxicity, especially focusing on oxygen free radicals, we studied malondialdehyde(MDA) level and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver of rats at 24, 48 and 72 hr after the injection of mercuric chloride. MDA levels at 24, 48 and 72 hr after the injection of mercuric chloride increased as compared with that of control group. The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase at 24, 48 and 72hr after the injection of mercuric chloride decreased as compared with that of control group. These results suggest that the depression of the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase resulting from excessive oxygen free radicals is an important determinant in pathogenesis of mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1993

Mercuric chloride, inorganic compound, is one of the most important drugs that has been used in the field of argriculture, antisyphilitica and anticeptics, but it is not used clinically at present. We have studied the effect of testosterone on the mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity. Renal lipid peroxide concentration of male rat treated with mercuric chloride was significantly increased in comparison with that of the female rat, it showed similar effects on testosterone pretreatment. Changes in renal catalase and gluta- thione peroxidase activities were not siginificantly different in testosterone-treated groups. But, renal xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase activities of testrosterone-treated group given mercuric chloride significantly increased in comparison with that of the testoste- rone-treated alone. Animals treated with testosterone prior to mercuric chloride showed more severe damage on histological observations than those treated with testosterone only. Consequently, we suggest that the mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity might be renal lipid peroxide generating enzyme system by testosterone.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.100-105
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• 2006

Liver and kidney are specific organs which play an active role in biotransformation and detoxification mechanisms. Ant adverse effect of chemicals or heavy metal can cause the delay or fade in these mechanisms. Present study was designed to find out the protective effect of Panax ginseng extract on renal functions altered by mercuric chloride (heavy metal) in albino rat. Fifty albino rats were divided into 10 groups. Five groups for acute study and five groups for sud-acute study viz. control group (Tween 20 and distilled water), mercuric chloride treated group (0.926 mg/kg body wt. for acute and 0.044 mg/kg body wt. for sub-acute group after calculated $LD_{50}$ (9.26 mg/kg body wt.) by probit analysis (Finney, 1971), Panax ginseng extract treated group (10 mg/kg body wt. for acute and sub-acute sets), mercuric chloride treated followed by Panax ginseng extract and Panax ginseng extract followed by mercuric chloride group. All doses were given orally by gavage tube. The result revealed that the serum urea and creatinine significantly increased in mercuric chloride treated group, while significantly decreased (p<0.01) in Panax ginseng extract group after acute and sub-acute treatment. The biochemical estimation is also confirmed by nephropathological aspect. However, the Panax ginseng extract treated followed by mercuric chloride group is more prominent than the mercuric chloride treated followed by Panax ginseng extract group. It can be concluded that Panax ginseng extract had a protective nature on renal functions against mercuric chloride toxicity in albino rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.106-111
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• 2006

Adverse changes in individual's biochemistry under heavy metal stress are directly linked with its metabolic activity and health status. The present investigation highlights the differences in protecting role of Panax ginseng extract against mercuric chloride induced alterations in serum proteins. The assessment was based on dividing fifty albino rats into two sets, one for acute and the other for sub-acute study. All the sets had five groups with five albino rats in each i.e. control group, mercuric chloride treated group, Panax ginseng extract treated group, mercuric chloride followed by Panax ginseng extract treated group and Panax ginseng extract followed by mercuric chloride treated group. Mercuric chloride was given orally 0.926 mg/kg body weight for acute set and 0.044 mg/kg body weight for sub-acute set after LD50 (9.26 mg/kg body weight) determination by probitt analysis. 10 mg/kg body weight Panax ginseng extract was given in both acute and sub-acute sets after incorporating safety trials. The control group received tween-20 and distilled water only. The result exhibited significantly reduction (P<0.01) in serum protein, albumin and globulin following mercuric chloride intoxication whereas significant (P<0.01) enhancement in other groups with Panax ginseng extract as an ingredient confirming its protective role. All serum samples were also electrophoresed in 10% SDS with standard marker using discontinuous buffering system. Gradual disappearance of alpha-2 and beta-1 globulin bands from electrophoretic pattern was observed, while a single sharp band was observed between beta-2 and gamma globulin in serum protein pattern of acutely mercuric chloride treated rats. However, this band could not be visualized in sub-acute studies. Panax ginseng extract exhibits a better protection after acute intoxication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1486-1491
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• 2004

The estrogenicities of six heavy metal compounds, which contaminate frequently in foods, were assayed using a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays. The assays were 1) estrogen receptor dependent transcriptional expression assay, 2) E-screen assay and, 3) the uterotropic assay in mice. The chemicals studied were 17$\beta$ -estradiol, diethylstilbestrol (DES), arsenic oxide, bis(tri-n-butyltin), cadmium chloride, chromium chloride, lead acetate, and mercuric chloride. Using the estrogen receptor dependent transcriptional expression assay, the following estrogenicity ranking was measured: bis(tri-n-butyltin) > cadmium chloride > chromium chloride >> mercuric chloride >lead acetate = arsenic oxide. Using E-screen test, the following estrogenicity ranking was measured: bis(tri-n-butyltin) > cadmium chloride > chromium chloride >> mercuric chloride > lead acetate = arsenic oxide. Results from the uterotropic assay showed that bis(tri-n-butyltin), cadmium chloride, chromium chloride caused an increase in uterine wet weight, while lead acetate, mercuric chloride, and arsenic oxide failed to do so. Bis(tri-n-butyltin), cadmium chloride and chromium chloride showed the highest estrogenicity in three assay systems. Recent studies suggesting that bis(tri-n-butyltin), cadmium chloride have estrogenicities are compatible with the present finding. Furthermore, our study is suggesting that chromium chloride may be estrogenic. The results demonstrate that this three level-assay combination (transcriptional activation, cell proliferation, and an in vivo effect in an estrogen-responsive tissue) could serve as a useful method to assess the estrogenicity of heavy metals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 1988

Oxygen free radical have recently been found to mediate cell injury after ischemia in the kidney. The purpose of our study was to determine whether selenium had an effect on damge mediated by oxygen free radical in inorganic mercury induced renal failure, toxic model of renal failure. Toxic renal failure model was produced by subcutaneous injection of mercuric chloride (4mg/kg) once a day for 7 consecutive days. In additionally, coadministration of sodium selenite (1mg/kg) was performed by the same condition. As a consequence of this study, we were able to detect partially unequivocal role of selenium as below dipicted. The combination of sodium selenite showed that markedly inhibited production of superoxide radical in mercuric chloride alone. On the other hand, combined sodium selenite was unable to enhance against significantly lowered superoxide dismutase activity after mercuric chloride insult. However, simultaneous administration of sodium selenite was inclined to induce mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and catalase.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-46
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• 1997

Ultrastructure of mouse thymus was evaluated, following the administration of potassium dichromate and mercuric chloride, the heavy metals of evironmental pollutants. Potassium dichromate (20 mg/kg) or mercuric chloride solutions (10 mg/kg) were subcutanously injected to the mice. Six hours, three days and two weeks after the injections, animals were sacrificed. Thymic tissues were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solutions. The procedure was followed by the fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide solutions. Washed and dehydrated tissue-blocks were embedded in the araldite mixture. Ultra-thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate-lead citrate solutions. Results observed were as follows: 1. In electron microscopy, cortical population of thymocytes in the thymus of experimental groups were reduced. especially in the outer cortex. Subcapsular cortices of potassium dichromate treated mice were filled with many epithelial reticular cells, whereas the similar area of mercuric chloride-treated mice exhibited large intercellular spaces. 2. In the thymus of mercuric chloride treated group, large intercellular spaces were formed by shrinkage of epithelial reticular cells, and the space was invaded by numerous cytoplasmic projections of macrophages. Thymocytes nuded out from the shrunken cytoplasm of epithelial reticular cells, presented numerous microvilli. 3. In the thymus of potassium dicromate treated group, many activated macrophages and plasma cells migrated into thymic cortices. 4. In the perivascular spaces of thymic cortices of potassium dichromate- and mercuric chloride-treated mice, activated macrophages. plasma cells, collagen fibrils, and flocculent substance of exudated materials were exhibited. From the above findifgs, it was concluded that potassium dichromate or mercuric chloride could disturb the normal differentiation or 'education' of T cells in the thymic cortex. In turn, these heavy metals may hurt the immunological defense mechanism.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2010

Mercuric chloride, a model nephrotoxicant was used to elucidate time- and dose- dependent global gene expression changes associated with proximal tubular toxicity. Rat kidney cell lines NRK-52E cells were exposed for 2, 6 and 12 hours and with 3 different doses of mercuric chloride. Cell viability assay showed that mercuric chloride had toxic effects on NRK-52E cells causing 20% cell death (IC20) at $40{\mu}M$ concentration. We set this IC20 as high dose concentration and 1/5 and 1/25 concentration of LC20 were used as mid and low concentration, respectively. Analyses of microarray data revealed that 738 genes were differentially expressed (more than two-fold change and p<0.05) by low concentration of mercuric chloride at least one time point in NRK-52E cells. 317 and 2,499 genes were differentially expressed at mid and high concentration of mercuric chloride, respectively. These deregulated genes showed a primary involvement with protein trafficking (CAV2, CANX, CORO1B), detoxification (GSTs) and immunity and defense (HMOX1, NQO1). Several of these genes were previously reported to be up-regulated in proximal tubule cells treated with nephrotoxicants and might be aid in promoting the predictive biomarkers for nephrotoxicity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1997

We investigated the influence of various known sterilization methods on atrazine assimilation. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of autoclaving, sodium azide and mercuric chloride treatment on the assimilation of atrazine in soil and sediment. The sterilization reactor treated with sodium azide resulted in $^{14}CO_2$ generation and atrazine was rapidly disappeared from reactor through chemical reaction with sodium azide. These findings seem to indicate that sodium azide sterilization is not recommended for atrazine studies. In sample reactors autoclaved or treated with mercuric chloride, $^{14}CO_2$ generation was not detected and most of the disappeared atrazine was found to exist as hydroxyatrazine. These results suggested that autoclaving or mercuric chloride treatment could be effective sterilization methods. However, chemical properties(pH and redox potential) of soil and sediment were altered by any of the sterilization methods applied. So it was suspected that these altered properties could affect distribution and mineralization of atrazine in soil and sediment. In addition, both autoclaving and mercuric chloride treatment have altered $K_d$ values of hydroxyatrazine more significantly than those of atrazine. Consequently, although autoclaving and mercuric chloride treatment are effective sterilization methods, one must be careful in using them in practice as these methods may cause chemical degradation of both of atrazine and its metabolites and changes in chemical properties of soil and sediment. In conclusion, careful assessment of sterilization methods must be made for the degradation studies of chemicals in soil and sediment in order to minimize possible undesirable chemical degradation of sample and/or changes in physico-chemical properties of soil and sediment by the selected sterilization methods.