PUBLICATION

Localizing organomercury uptake and accumulation in zebrafish larvae at the tissue and cellular level

Authors
Korbas, M., Blechinger, S.R., Krone, P.H., Pickering, I.J., and George, G.N.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080826-44
Date
2008
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   105(34): 12108-12112 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Krone, Patrick H.
Keywords
methylmercury, thimerosal, x-ray fluorescence mapping, eye lens
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Brain/metabolism
  • Ethylmercury Compounds
  • Larva/metabolism*
  • Lens, Crystalline/metabolism
  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Optic Nerve/metabolism
  • Organomercury Compounds/analysis
  • Organomercury Compounds/metabolism
  • Organomercury Compounds/pharmacokinetics*
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/pharmacokinetics
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
18719123 Full text @ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Abstract
Using synchrotron x-ray fluorescence mapping, we have examined the uptake and localization of organic mercury in zebrafish larvae. Strikingly, the greatest accumulation of methyl and ethyl mercury compounds was highly localized in the rapidly dividing lens epithelium, with lower levels going to brain, optic nerve, and various other organs. The data suggest that the reported impairment of visual processes by mercury may arise not only from previously reported neurological effects, but also from direct effects on the ocular tissue. This novel approach is a powerful tool for directly investigating the molecular toxicology of heavy metals, and should be equally applicable to the study of a wide range of elements in developing embryos.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping