Abstract
The in vivo dynamics of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) interaction was studied in mouse tissues using direct visualization of individual Se, Hg, and SeHg particles on the surface of circulating erythrocytes. This high-resolution detection of Se and Hg was obtained by scanning electron microscopy coupled to X-ray microanalysis. BALB/c mice were injected in the peritoneal cavity with Se and Hg salts, and the animals were sacrificed 3 min after the Hg injection. Only a minority (9%) of the metal dots seen on mouse liver erythrocytes were SeHg complexes when Se and Hg salts were mixed together before injection. In contrast, the majority (73%) of metal dots on liver erythrocytes were SeHg complexes if Se was injected at least 5 min before Hg injection. All metal dots on liver erythrocytes were of SeHg complexes if Se was injected 9 or 12 min before the Hg injection. We conclude that the formation of stable in vivo SeHg complexes requires preliminary interaction of Se with a putative serum factor before complexes between Se and Hg are formed and are bound to the erythrocyte cell surface.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Professor Carlos Sá, director of CEMUP, for the use of his facilities of SEM-XRM and for his expert advice. We are grateful to Mr. Emanuel Monteiro for the preparation of the samples for scanning electron microscopy. This research was financed by a grant from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) of Portugal.
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Cherdwongcharoensuk, D., João Oliveira, M. & Águas, A.P. In Vivo Formation and Binding of SeHg Complexes to the Erythrocyte Surface. Biol Trace Elem Res 136, 197–203 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8532-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8532-5