Effects of zinc against mercury toxicity in female rats 12 and 48 hours after HgCl2 exposure

Authors

  • Mariana Mesquita Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
  • Taíse F. Pedroso Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
  • Cláudia S. Oliveira Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
  • Vitor A. Oliveira Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
  • Rafael Francisco do Santos Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
  • Cezar Augusto Bizzi Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
  • Maria Ester Pereira Post-Graduate Course in Biological Science - Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2015-709

Keywords:

females, nephrotoxicity, acute, mercury, zinc

Abstract

This work investigated the toxicity of inorganic mercury and zinc preventive effects in female rats sacrificed 12 or 48 h after HgCl2 exposure. Female Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with ZnCl2 (27 mg/kg) or saline (0.9 %), and 24 h later they were exposed to HgCl2 (5 mg/kg) or saline (0.9 %). Rats sacrificed 12 hours after Hg administration presented an increase in kidney weight and a decrease in renal ascorbic acid levels. Zinc pretreatment prevented the renal weight increase. Rats sacrificed 48 h after Hg exposure presented a decrease in body weight gain, an increase in renal weight, a decrease in renal δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity, an increase in serum creatinine and urea levels, and a decrease in kidney total thiol levels. Zinc pretreatment partly prevented the decrease in body weight gain and increase in creatinine levels, in addition to totally preventing renal δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inhibition. Mercury accumulation in the kidney and liver in both periods was observed after Hg administration. These results show the different Hg effects along the time of intoxication, and a considerably preventive effect of zinc against Hg toxicity.

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Published

2016-04-12

How to Cite

Mesquita, M., Pedroso, T. F., Oliveira, C. S., Oliveira, V. A., do Santos, R. F., Bizzi, C. A., & Pereira, M. E. (2016). Effects of zinc against mercury toxicity in female rats 12 and 48 hours after HgCl2 exposure. EXCLI Journal, 15, 256–267. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2015-709

Issue

Vol. 15 (2016)

Section

Original articles

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