Abstract
Tissue samples from the cerebral and cerebellar cortex of neonatal rats which had been prenatally exposed to low doses of methylmercury were examined by electron microscopy. Although all these neonates appeared to be physically normal, ultrastructural examination revealed various degenerative changes in their nervous systems. The most prominent pathological findings, including disruption and myelin-figure formation of the nuclear membranes and large areas of focal degradation and endothelial damage, were found in both the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of the animals. The present study provides evidence that minute amounts of methylmercury, which by itself may produce no significant injury to the maternal tissues nor any observable gross teratology of the neonate, may still be hazardous to the developing nervous system.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 414-423 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Environmental research |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1977 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry
- Environmental Science(all)
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Degenerative changes in the developing nervous system as a result of in utero exposure to methylmercury. / Chang, Louis W.; Reuhl, Kenneth; Lee, George W.
In: Environmental research, Vol. 14, No. 3, 01.01.1977, p. 414-423.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Degenerative changes in the developing nervous system as a result of in utero exposure to methylmercury
AU - Chang, Louis W.
AU - Reuhl, Kenneth
AU - Lee, George W.
PY - 1977/1/1
Y1 - 1977/1/1
N2 - Tissue samples from the cerebral and cerebellar cortex of neonatal rats which had been prenatally exposed to low doses of methylmercury were examined by electron microscopy. Although all these neonates appeared to be physically normal, ultrastructural examination revealed various degenerative changes in their nervous systems. The most prominent pathological findings, including disruption and myelin-figure formation of the nuclear membranes and large areas of focal degradation and endothelial damage, were found in both the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of the animals. The present study provides evidence that minute amounts of methylmercury, which by itself may produce no significant injury to the maternal tissues nor any observable gross teratology of the neonate, may still be hazardous to the developing nervous system.
AB - Tissue samples from the cerebral and cerebellar cortex of neonatal rats which had been prenatally exposed to low doses of methylmercury were examined by electron microscopy. Although all these neonates appeared to be physically normal, ultrastructural examination revealed various degenerative changes in their nervous systems. The most prominent pathological findings, including disruption and myelin-figure formation of the nuclear membranes and large areas of focal degradation and endothelial damage, were found in both the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of the animals. The present study provides evidence that minute amounts of methylmercury, which by itself may produce no significant injury to the maternal tissues nor any observable gross teratology of the neonate, may still be hazardous to the developing nervous system.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0017587329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0017587329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0013-9351(77)90049-4
DO - 10.1016/0013-9351(77)90049-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 590231
AN - SCOPUS:0017587329
VL - 14
SP - 414
EP - 423
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
SN - 0013-9351
IS - 3
ER -