Abstract
The effects of mercuric chloride on cell survival, phagocytosis and cell migration were examined in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, and the accumulation of mercuric chloride in the cells was visualized by autometallography and evaluated by light and electron microscopy. Macrophages exposed to mercury concentrations from 1.25 μM to 10 μM mercuric chloride showed a concentration- and time-dependent increase in mercuric chloride accumulation, while cells exposed to 20 μM and 40 μM mercury showed an inverse relationship between mercury concentration and the accumulation of mercury. Mercury concentrations above these levels caused cell necrosis. Electron microscopy revealed that mercury was located primarily within lysosomes but also in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Mercury increased the death rate of macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner when cells were treated with mercury concentrations not causing cell necrosis. Further, we found that mercury clearly impaired macrophage random migration and possibly the capability for phagocytosis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baatrup E, Nielsen MG, Danscher G (1986) Histochemical demonstration of two mercury pools in trout tissues: mercury in kidney and liver after mercuric chloride exposure. Ecotoxicol Envirom Saf 12: 267–282
Castranova V, Bowman L, Miles PR, Reasor MJ (1980) Toxicity of metal ions to alveolar macrophages. Am J Industr Med 1: 349–357
Chvapil M, Ryan JN, Brada Z (1972) Effect of selected chelating agents and metals on the stability of liver lysosomes. Biochem Pharmacol 21: 1097–1105
Clarkson TW (1972) The pharmacology of mercury compounds. Ann Rev Pharmacol 12: 375–406
Danscher G, Rungby J (1986) Differentiation of histochemically visualised mercury and silver. Histochem J 18: 109–114
Danscher G, Møller-Madsen B (1985) Silver amplification of mercury sulfide and selinide. A histochemical method for light and electron microscopic localization of mercury in tissue. J Histochem Cytochem 33: 219–228
Danscher G, Schrøder H (1979) Histochemical demonstration of mercury induced changes in rat neurones. Histochemistry 60: 1–7
Ellermann-Eriksen S, Rungby J, Mogensen SC (1987) Autointerference in silver accumulation in macrophages without affecting phagocytic, migratory or interferon-producing capacity. Virchows Arch B53: 243–250
Fowler BA, Brown HW, Lucier GW, Beard ME (1974) Mercury uptake by renal lysosomes of rat ingesting methyl mercury hydroxide. Arch Pathol 98: 297–301
Koller LD, Roan JG (1977) Effects of lead and cadmium on mouse peritoneal macrophages. J Reticuloendothel Soc 21: 7–12
Lauwerys R, Buchet J (1972) Study on the mechanism of lysosome labilization by inorganic mercury in vitro. Eur J Biochem 26: 535–542
Lindh U, Johansson E (1987) Protective effects of selenium against mercury toxicity as studied in the rat liver and kidney by nuclear analytical techniques. Biol Trace Elem Res 12: 109–120
Loose LD, Silkworth JB, Simpson DW (1978) Influence of cadmium on the phagocytic and microbicidal activity of murine peritoneal macrophages, pulmonary alveolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Infect Immun 22: 378–381
Madsen KM, Christensen EI (1978) Effects of mercury on lysosomal protein digestion in the kidney proximal tubule. Lab Invest 38: 165–174
Magos L, Clarkson TW, Sparrow S, Hudson AR (1987) Comparison of the protection given by selenite, selenomethionine and biological selenium against the renotoxicity of mercury. Arch Toxicol 60: 422–426
Mogensen SC (1982) Macrophage migration inhibition as a correlate of cell-mediated immunity to herpes simplex virus type 2 in mice. Immunobiology 162: 28–38
Norseth T, Brendeford M (1971) Intracellular distribution of inorganic and organic mercury in rat liver after exposure to methylmercury salts. Biochem Pharmacol 20: 1101–1107
Parizek J, Ostadalova I (1967) The protective effect of small amounts of selenite in sublimate intoxication. Experimenta 23: 142–143
Rungby J, Hultman P, Ellerman-Eriksen S (1987) Silver affects viability and structure of cultured mouse macrophages and peroxidative capacity of whole mouse liver. Arch Toxicol 59: 408–412
Stacey NH, Kappus H (1982) Cellular toxicity and lipid peroxidation in response to mercury. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 63: 29–35
Sternlieb I, Goldfischer S (1976) Heavy metals and lysosomes. In: Dingle JT, Dean RT (eds) Lysosomes in biology and pathology. Amsterdam, North Holland Publishing Co., pp 185–199
Thorlacius-Ussing O, Graabæk PM (1986) Simultaneous ultrastructural demonstration of heavy metals (silver, mercury) and acic phosphatase. Histochem J 18: 639–646
Zukoski CF, Chvapil M, Carlson E, Hattler B, Ludwig J (1974) Functional immobilization of peritoneal macrophages by zinc. J Reticuloendothel Soc 16: 6a
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Christensen, M., Mogensen, S.C. & Rungby, J. Toxicity and ultrastructural localization of mercuric chloride in cultured murine macrophages. Arch Toxicol 62, 440–446 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288347
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288347