Uptake of Methyl Mercuric Chloride and Mercuric Chloride by Trout: A Study of Uptake Pathways into the Whole Animal and Uptake by Erythrocytes in vitro

Abstract

Twenty-four hour uptake rate of either 203 HgCl 2 or CH 3 203 HgCl by rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was not affected by esophageal ligation. Uptake of these two mercurials in non-feeding trout appears to be by way of the gills. Methyl mercury enters the fish at a faster rate than the inorganic form and anomalous tissue distribution of these two mercurials suggests that inorganic mercury does not require methylation prior to entry into the fish.In vitro experiments using radioactive mercurials demonstrated high affinity of methyl mercury for red cells (up to 90% was bound to red cells in 40 min). Only 9% of inorganic mercury was taken up by red cells, but, this percentage was increased up to 65% if the cells were washed and suspended in Ringer solution prior to incubation with mercury.