Lactational exposure to mercury in experimental models

The extent to which there is methylmercury exposure via breast milk is important in animal models of human developmental exposures. The concentration of organic and inorganic mercury in breast milk reflects the concentration in plasma, from which milk derives. Accordingly, much mercury in milk is in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurotoxicology (Park Forest South) 2009, Vol.30 (1), p.161-163
Main Authors: Newland, M. Christopher, Paletz, Elliott M., Reed, Miranda N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Developmental neurotoxicity
Lactation
Methylmercury
Milk
Rodents
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Summary:The extent to which there is methylmercury exposure via breast milk is important in animal models of human developmental exposures. The concentration of organic and inorganic mercury in breast milk reflects the concentration in plasma, from which milk derives. Accordingly, much mercury in milk is inorganic and poorly absorbed. The concentration of organic MeHg in milk is many times lower than that seen in blood. Because of these factors, lactational exposure is very small compared with prenatal exposure. In studies in which MeHg was present throughout gestation the near-weaning pups may have consumed mercury directly from the feed or water. Experimentalists should ensure that near-weanling rodents cannot consume MeHg directly.
ISSN:0161-813X
1872-9711
DOI:10.1016/j.neuro.2008.10.005