Co-administration of a Rhododendron tomentosum extract does not affect mercury tissue concentrations and excretion rate in methylmercury-treated adult male rats

BMC Research Notes

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[1] 0000 0001 2110 2143, grid.57544.37, Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada;0000 0001 2110 2143, grid.57544.37, Hazard Identification Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Environmental Health Centre, 50 Colombine Driveway, P.L. 0803B, Tunney’s Pasture, K1A 0K9, Ottawa, ON, Canada;0000 0001 2110 2143, grid.57544.37, Hazard Identification Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Environmental Health Centre, 50 Colombine Driveway, P.L. 0803B, Tunney’s Pasture, K1A 0K9, Ottawa, ON, Canada;0000 0001 2182 2255, grid.28046.38, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada;

关键词: Rat;    Co-exposure;    Methylmercury;    Labrador Tea;    Rhododendron tomentosum;    Antibiotics;    Gut microbiota;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13104-019-4409-7

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesConsumption of fish/seafood is clearly linked to higher mercury levels in human tissue samples. However, correlations between methylmercury (MeHg) intakes calculated from dietary surveys and mercury body burdens are usually weak and can vary across populations. Different factors may affect MeHg absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, including co-exposures to phytochemicals and antibiotics, which were shown to affect mercury body burdens in rodents. Based on the observation that rat pups developmentally exposed to MeHg and a Rhododendron tomentosum extract (Labrador Tea) presented significantly higher blood mercury levels at weaning compared to pups exposed to MeHg alone, the modulation of MeHg toxicokinetics by Labrador Tea was further investigated in adult rats.ResultsTotal mercury levels were quantified in the blood, liver, kidney and feces of adult male rats exposed to MeHg (1.2 mg/kg bodyweight/day, for 3 weeks) administered either alone or in combination with Labrador Tea (100 mg/kg bodyweight/day) or with an antibiotics cocktail (to inhibit MeHg demethylation by gut bacteria). While the reduced fecal excretion and higher blood mercury levels expected from antibiotics-treated rats were observed, mercury levels in samples from Labrador Tea-treated rats were not significantly different from those measured in samples from rats exposed to MeHg alone.

【 授权许可】

CC BY