Translocation and Fluxes of Mercury in Neonatal and Maternal Rats Treated with Methyl Mercuric Chloride During Gestation

Abstract

Pregnant rats, during the 16th day of gestation, were force-fed a tracer dose of 203Hg as methyl mercuric chloride. At parturition, 7, 14,21, and 28 days after parturition, the 203Hg radioactivities in the different brain parts and organs of maternal and neonatal rats were determined. The concentration of 203Hg in the brain, brain parts, and organs of mothers and pups decreased with time after force-feeding. At all time periods, cerebrum contained the greatest quantity of 203Hg and pituitary the lowest in both mothers and pups due primarily to the size of the tissue.