Neurotoxic mechanisms of fish-borne methylmercury

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1382-6689(02)00028-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) epidemics and studies in fish-eating populations have provided invaluable insights into the neurotoxic sequelae of MeHg exposure. MeHg is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, and its accumulation in the food chain will continue to pose health risks given anthropogenic and natural contamination. This review briefly addresses recent epidemiological data associated with exposure to MeHg in fish-eating populations, identifies mechanisms of MeHg transport into the central nervous system (CNS), and discusses various theories on cellular processes afflicted by MeHg, which most certainly include astrocytic failure to maintain the composition of the extracellular fluid.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by PHS grants NIEHS 07331 and NIAA11617 awarded to M.A.

References (30)

  • P. Grandjean

    Mercury risks: controversy or just uncertainty

    Public Health Rep.

    (1999)
  • Grandjean, P., Weihe, P., White, R.F., Debes, F., Araki, S., Yokoyama, K., Murata, K., Sorensen, N., Dahl, R.,...
  • J.T. Greenamyre et al.

    Autoradiographic characterization, of NMDA-, quisqualate-, and kainate-sensitive glutamate binding sites

    J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.

    (1985)
  • W.H. Hughes

    A physicochemical rationale for the biological activity of mercury and its compounds

    Ann. New York Acad. Sci.

    (1957)
  • S. Jensen et al.

    Biological methylation of mercury in aquatic organisms

    Nature

    (1969)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text