LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN LIVER OF RATS ADMINISTRATED WITH METHYL MERCURIC-CHLORIDE

Parenteral administration of methyl mercuric chloride (MMC, CH3HgCl) t o rats enhanced lipid peroxidation in liver of rats, as measured by th e thiobarbituric acid reaction for malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh tiss ue homogenates. After sc injection of CH3HgCl (5 mg/kg body wt), MDA c oncentration in liver became significantly increased at 24 h and furth er increased at 48 h. Dose-response studies were carried out with male albino rats of the Fisher-344 strain (body wt 170-280 g) injected wit h 3 or 5 mg Hg/kg as CH3HgCl and sacrificed after 24 h. In time-respon se studies, animals were administered 5 mg Hg/kg as CH3HgCl and sacrif iced after 24 and 48 h. Studies in the authors' laboratory have shown that (1) mercury is accumulated in liver; (2) concentration of MDA is increased in liver of CH3HgCl-treated rats; (3) severity of hepatotoxi city is generally proportional to the elevation of MDA concentration, based upon the dose-effect relationships observed after administration of CH3HgCl to rats. The results of this study implicate that the lipi d peroxidation is one of the molecular mechanisms for cell injury in a cute CH3HgCl poisoning.