MICROSCOPIC LOCALIZATION OF MERCURY - SELENIUM INTERACTION PRODUCTS IN LIVER, KIDNEY, LUNG AND BRAIN OF MEDITERRANEAN STRIPED DOLPHINS (STENELLA-COERULEOALBA) BY SILVER ENHANCEMENT KIT

Microscopic observation, using physical development of silver, was car ried out to localize the mercury-selenium interaction products in the organs of Mediterranean striped dolphins. The silver-metal reaction pr oducts were located mainly in hepatocytes and macrophages for liver, i n proximal tubules for kidney. They were less abundant in lung than in liver and kidney. The result of semi-quantitative histochemistry test s showed that silver staining deposits were more abundant at relativel y high metal concentrations than low metal contents, but independent o f the metal contents. Comparisons with the most concentrated metal con tents suggested that there might be a new complex of mercury and selen ium, which could not be stainable by physical silver development.