Methyl mercury exposure during post-natal brain growth alters behavioral response to SCH 23390 in young rats

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 256 - 262
• Main Authors: PEREIRA, M. E, MORSCH, V. M, CHRISTOFARI, R. S, ROCHA, J. B. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01.08.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Benzazepines - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Brain; Brain - drug effects; Brain - growth & development; Brain - metabolism; Catalepsy - chemically induced; Catalepsy - psychology; Dopamine Antagonists - pharmacology; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Exploratory Behavior - drug effects; Exploratory Behavior - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Locomotion - drug effects; Locomotion - physiology; Male; Mercury - metabolism; Methylmercury Compounds - metabolism; Methylmercury Compounds - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Teratology. Teratogens; Nervous system diseases; Rat; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Rodentia; Postnatal development; Young animal; Cerebral disorder; Heavy metal; Dopaminergic transmission; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Central nervous system disease; Mercury Organic compounds; Teratogen
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s001289900974

The effects of methylmercury (MeHg) treatment during the second stage of rapid post-natal brain growth on the behavioral response of 25-d-old rats to SCH 23390, which is a specific D1 dopamine receptor antagonist, were investigated. Brain levels of Hg were determined at the end of MeHg exposure in 13-d-old rats and after the behavioral studies. Methylmercury doses of 0, 4.6, 6.9, and 9.2 mg/kg were used, along with SCH 23390 doses of 0, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg. Results showed that exposure to MeHg from day 8 to 12 of post-natal life caused a significant deposition of Hg in brain. Although the levels decreased from day 13 to day 26, the Hg concentration remained higher than in unexposed controls. The behavioral response to the D1 dopaminergic receptor antagonist was diminished in a dose-dependent manner in the MeHg-exposed animals.