Acta Neuropathologica

, Volume 23, Issue 1, pp 77–83 | Cite as

Quantitative cytochemical studies of RNA in experimental mercury poisoning

II. Changes in the base composition and ratios
  • Louis W. Chang
  • Patricia A. Desnoyers
  • Henrik A. Hartmann
Original Investigations
Received:

Summary

Adult male rats were intoxicated with methylmercuric chloride (CH3HgCl) or mercuric bichloride (HgCl2) at a daily dosage of 1.0 mg/kg body weight for various length of periods. Single neurons were dissected out from the dorsal root ganglia with the aid of a de Fonbrune micromanipulator. The RNA of these neurons was extracted and the base composition of the RNA was analyzed by the microphoretic technique of Edström.

Although methylmercury and short-termed mercuric bichloride intoxication induced a marked reduction of the total RNA content in these neurons, there was no change in the base values under these conditions. Change in the RNA base composition and ratios were detected after prolonged mercuric bichloride intoxication (11 weeks). The guanine value was increased from 32 to 37 and the cytosine value was decreased from 28 to 21 with a consequent shift of the G/C ratio from 1.16 to 1.73 and the A+G/C+U ratio from 1.12 to 1.33. The change in the RNA base composition occurred at the same period where there was an increased activity of RNA production. Since some animals showed signs of increasing tolerance and recovery from the mercury toxicity at the same time, it can be speculated that the newly produced RNA may be responsible for these phenomena.

Key words

Mercury Intoxication Neuronal RNA Cytochemistry RNA Activity 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1973

Authors and Affiliations

  • Louis W. Chang
    • 1
  • Patricia A. Desnoyers
    • 1
  • Henrik A. Hartmann
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PathologyUniversity of Wisconsin, Medical SchoolMadisonUSA

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