Relationships among mercury, selenium, and neurochemical parameters in common loons (Gavia immer) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

• Published in: Ecotoxicology (London) Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 93 - 101
• Main Authors: Scheuhammer, A. M, Basu, N, Burgess, N. M, Elliott, J. E, Campbell, G. D, Wayland, M, Champoux, L, Rodrigue, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.02.2008; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic birds; Bioaccumulation; Biotransformation; Birds - metabolism; Brain - drug effects; Brain - enzymology; Brain - metabolism; Cholinesterase; Cholinesterases - metabolism; Dealkylation; eagles; Eagles - metabolism; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Fishes - metabolism; Food Chain; Gavia immer; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Loon; Marine; Mercury; Mercury - metabolism; Mercury - toxicity; Methylmercury; methylmercury compounds; Methylmercury Compounds - metabolism; Methylmercury Compounds - toxicity; Monoamine Oxidase - metabolism; Neurochemistry; Receptors, Muscarinic - metabolism; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - metabolism; Selenium; Selenium - metabolism; Species Specificity; Tissue Distribution; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Neurochemistry; Selenium; Mercury; Eagle; Loon; Methylmercury
• ISSN: 0963-9292; 1573-3017
• DOI: 10.1007/s10646-007-0170-0

Fish-eating birds can be exposed to levels of dietary methylmercury (MeHg) known or suspected to adversely affect normal behavior and reproduction, but little is known regarding Hg's subtle effects on the avian brain. In the current study, we explored relationships among Hg, Se, and neurochemical receptors and enzymes in two fish-eating birds--common loons (Gavia immer) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In liver, both species demonstrated a wide range of total Hg (THg) concentrations, substantial demethylation of MeHg, and a co-accumulation of Hg and Se. In liver, there were molar excesses of Se over Hg up to about 50-60 μg/g THg, above which there was an approximate 1:1 molar ratio of Hg:Se in both species. However, in brain, bald eagles displayed a greater apparent ability to demethylate MeHg than common loons. There were molar excesses of Se over Hg in brains of bald eagles across the full range of THg concentrations, whereas common loons often had extreme molar excesses of Hg in their brains, with a higher proportion of THg remaining as MeHg compared with eagles. There were significant positive correlations between brain THg and muscarinic cholinergic receptor concentrations in both species studied; whereas significant negative correlations were observed between N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor levels and brain Hg concentration. There were no significant correlations between brain Se and neurochemical receptors or enzymes (cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase) in either species. Our findings suggest that there are significant differences between common loons and bald eagles with respect to cerebral metabolism and toxicodynamics of MeHg and Se. These interspecies differences may influence relative susceptibility to MeHg toxicity; however, neurochemical responses to Hg in both species were similar.