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The Role of Thyroid Modulation by Methylmercury in Developmental Neurotoxicity

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Methylmercury and Neurotoxicity

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Neurotoxicity ((Current Topics Neurotoxicity,volume 2))

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Abstract

The developing brain is extremely susceptible to methylmercury (MeHg) and thyroid hormone deficiency. Because of some analogy in neurological deficits between MeHg neurotoxicity and thyroid insufficiency, recent studies have focused on thyroid modulation by MeHg. Activities of iodothyronine deiodinases, critical enzymes for local production and degradation of active thyroid hormone 3,3′, 5-triiodothyronine (T3), in the brain are affected by MeHg exposure, suggesting that impaired maintenance of adequate T3 levels may play a role in the MeHg-induced neurological manifestations. In addition, MeHg reportedly interferes with thyroid hormone synthesis. However, the presence of other pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls in MeHg-contaminated food makes the interpretation of thyroidal involvement in MeHg neurotoxicity complicated. Despite interesting circumstantial evidence, whether impaired thyroid hormone homeostasis is involved in MeHg neurotoxicity remains unclear.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dr. Chiho Watanabe (Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo) for valuable comments.

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  1. Division of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan

    Kouki Mori MD, PhD

  2. Department of Medical Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan

    Katsumi Yoshida MD, PhD

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  1. Kouki Mori MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Kouki Mori MD, PhD .

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  1. , Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden

    Sandra Ceccatelli

  2. , Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Garland Avenue 2215-B, Nashville, 37232, Tennessee, USA

    Michael Aschner

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Mori, K., Yoshida, K. (2012). The Role of Thyroid Modulation by Methylmercury in Developmental Neurotoxicity. In: Ceccatelli, S., Aschner, M. (eds) Methylmercury and Neurotoxicity. Current Topics in Neurotoxicity, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2383-6_7

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