COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MERCURY ON BRAIN SLICE RESPIRATION AND METABOLISM

Abstract

—Respiration and carbohydrate metabolism were measured in guinea-pig brain slices exposed to organic and inorganic mercury. Organic mercury decreased oxygen uptake and 14CO2 production at consistently lower concentrations than inorganic mercury. Organic mercury also caused a striking elevation of pyruvate and lactate at low doses where inorganic mercury had no effect on respiration or metabolism. A unique inhibition of tricarboxylic acid cycle function is suggested and might partially explain the distinctive neurotoxicity of organic mercury.