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Calado AM, Seixas F, Pires MDA. Updating an Overview of Teratology. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2753:1-38. [PMID: 38285332 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3625-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
In this chapter, the authors aim to update an overview of the principles of teratology, beginning with the definition of teratology, the critical point at which this process occurs, and some of the most common etiological agents that improve our understanding of teratology.Modern teratology has greatly improved in recent years with advances in new methods in molecular biology, toxicology, animal laboratory science, and genetics, increasing our knowledge of ambient influences. Nevertheless, there is a lot to do to reduce the influence of hazardous intervening agents, whether they target our genetics or not, that can negatively affect pregnancy and induce congenital development disorders, including morphological, biochemical, or behavioral defects.Certain agents might indeed be related to certain defects, but we have not been able to identify the cause of most congenital defects, which highlights the importance of finding and testing out new genetics techniques and conducting laboratory animal science to unravel the etiology and pathogenicity of each congenital defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Calado
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4Animals), Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Seixas
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4Animals), Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria Dos Anjos Pires
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4Animals), Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
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Nawab J, Ghani J, Rehman SAU, Idress M, Luqman M, Khan S, Asghar A, Rahman Z. Biomonitoring of mercury in water, sediments, and fish (brown and rainbow trout) from remote alpine lakes located in the Himalayas, Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:81021-81036. [PMID: 35727512 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination of aquatic ecological units and subsequent bioaccumulation are major environmental problems of international scope. Moreover, the biogeochemistry of Hg in the remote alpine lakes aquatic ecosystem in the Himalayas remains largely unexplored. The current study investigated Hg concentrations in different environmental compartments such as water, fish, and sediments in the remote alpine lakes (RALs) including Glacial-fed Lake, Ice melting-fed Lake, and Rain-fed Lake in northern areas of Pakistan. The mean concentration of Hg in Rain-fed Lake water was (1.07 µg L-1), Ice melting-fed Lake (1.16 µg L-1), and Glacial-fed Lake (1.95 µg L-1). For fish muscle tissues, mean concentration of Hg was 1.02 mg kg-1 in the Rain-fed Lake, and 1.2 mg kg-1 for the Ice melting-fed Lake, and 1.51 mg kg-1 in the Glacial-fed Lake. Meanwhile, 0.27 mg kg-1 was observed for sediments in the Rain-fed Lake, 0.33 mg kg-1 for the Ice melting-fed Lake, and 0.38 mg kg-1 for the Glacial-fed Lake, respectively. Chronic daily intake (CDI) and potential health quotient (PHQ) for water showed high health risk in Glacial-fed Lake and low in Rain-fed Lake (PHQ < 1). The target hazard quotient (THQ) values for both the Brown and Rainbow trout in all the studied lakes water were less than 1, indicating no health risk. Furthermore, the Hg level showed high level of contamination in the sediments of all the studied lakes (190 ≤ RI < 380). Overall, Glacial-fed Lake water was more polluted with Hg, as compared to Rain-fed Lake and Ice melting-fed Lake. In the light of the abovementioned results, further research work is urgently needed to shed light on the biological and geochemical monitoring of Hg in arid high-altitude ecosystems along with source identification, mercury speciation, and other potential pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Nawab
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan.
| | - Junaid Ghani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Syed Aziz Ur Rehman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Idress
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Luqman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Sardar Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Ali Asghar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Ziaur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
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Sekovanić A, Piasek M, Orct T, Sulimanec Grgec A, Matek Sarić M, Stasenko S, Jurasović J. Mercury Exposure Assessment in Mother-Infant Pairs from Continental and Coastal Croatia. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060821. [PMID: 32471193 PMCID: PMC7355586 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The main source of mercury (Hg) exposure in the general population is fish. Another possible source is dental amalgam. Here, we compare the levels of Hg and selenium (Se) in samples of maternal and fetal origin collected shortly after childbirth of healthy postpartum women in the coastal (n = 96) and continental (n = 185) areas of Croatia related to maternal seafood/fish consumption. We also evaluated Hg concentrations and maternal serum metallothionein (MT2) concentrations in relation to the number of dental amalgam fillings, and MT2A-5A/G (rs28366003) polymorphism. The levels of Hg and Se in maternal hair and blood/serum, placenta and cord blood/serum increased in relation to increasing fish consumption with the highest values in subjects from the coast. The concentrations of each element and between elements correlated across the matrices. Increasing amalgam number correlated linearly with increased Hg levels in maternal and cord serum and was not associated with serum MT2. No association of MT2A-5A/G polymorphism and Hg or Se levels were found. The results confirmed higher fish consumption in coastal vs. continental Croatia and increases of both Hg and Se related to fish consumption in all analyzed samples. Increased blood Hg reflected the predominant MeHg share from seafood, while increased serum Hg matched exposure from dental amalgams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankica Sekovanić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.G.); (J.J.)
| | - Martina Piasek
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.G.); (J.J.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tatjana Orct
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.G.); (J.J.)
| | - Antonija Sulimanec Grgec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.G.); (J.J.)
| | | | - Sandra Stasenko
- Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Merkur University Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Jasna Jurasović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.G.); (J.J.)
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Zupo V, Graber G, Kamel S, Plichta V, Granitzer S, Gundacker C, Wittmann KJ. Mercury accumulation in freshwater and marine fish from the wild and from aquaculture ponds. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:112975. [PMID: 31541831 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.112975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We analysed the total mercury (Hg) accumulation in bodies and gut contents of 13 species of marine wild fish, 7 species of wild freshwater fish and 4 species of farmed fish. In addition, metal concentrations were recorded in water, sediment, fish prey and fodder materials, to track the dynamics of bio-accumulation. Cultured freshwater fish were collected at four Austrian farms and compared with samples obtained from markets. Wild marine fish were collected at Santa Croce bank, in Italy (Mediterranean Sea). Metal accumulation varied with sampling site, species, and age (or weight) of fish. Wild marine fish exhibited higher levels than wild freshwater fish, which in turn had higher Hg levels than cultured freshwater fish. Mercury increased according to trophic levels of consumers. Total Hg contents in muscle of cultured and wild freshwater fish sampled in 2006-2008 did not exceed legal nutritional limits. Similarly, in market samples of trout and carp collected in 2019, we found low or undetectable concentrations of total Hg in muscle tissue. In contrast, some marine fish (both market samples and some species from coastal waters) exceeded the legal limits. Environmental contamination, food webs and biological factors are the main causes of Hg accumulation in fish. Our results reflect the actual differences between specific European sites and should not be generalized. However, they support the generally increasing demand for monitoring mercury pollution in view of its impact on human health and its value as an indicator of ecosystem contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Zupo
- Benthic Ecology Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, I-80077 Ischia (Napoli), Italy.
| | - Gunnar Graber
- Abteilung für Umwelthygiene, Medizinische Universität Wien, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Samar Kamel
- Abteilung für Umwelthygiene, Medizinische Universität Wien, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Plichta
- Institut für Medizinische Genetik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Straße 10, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Granitzer
- Institut für Medizinische Genetik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Straße 10, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Gundacker
- Institut für Medizinische Genetik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Straße 10, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Karl J Wittmann
- Abteilung für Umwelthygiene, Medizinische Universität Wien, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Astolfi ML, Protano C, Marconi E, Piamonti D, Massimi L, Brunori M, Vitali M, Canepari S. Simple and rapid method for the determination of mercury in human hair by cold vapour generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Microchem J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.104186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Bocato MZ, Bianchi Ximenez JP, Hoffmann C, Barbosa F. An overview of the current progress, challenges, and prospects of human biomonitoring and exposome studies. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2019; 22:131-156. [PMID: 31543064 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2019.1661588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Human Biomonitoring (HB), the process for determining whether and to what extent chemical substances penetrated our bodies, serves as a useful tool to quantify human exposure to pollutants. In cases of nutrition and physiologic status, HB plays a critical role in the identification of excess or deficiency of essential nutrients. In pollutant HB studies, levels of substances measured in body fluids (blood, urine, and breast milk) or tissues (hair, nails or teeth) aid in the identification of potential health risks or associated adverse effects. However, even as a widespread practice in several countries, most HB studies reflect exposure to a single compound or mixtures which are measured at a single time point in lifecycle. On the other hand, throughout an individual's lifespan, the contact with different physical, chemical, and social stressors occurs at varying intensities, differing times and durations. Further, the interaction between stressors and body receptors leads to dynamic responses of the entire biological system including proteome, metabolome, transcriptome, and adductome. Bearing this in mind, a relatively new vision in exposure science, defined as the exposome, is postulated to expand the traditional practice of measuring a single exposure to one or few chemicals at one-time point to an approach that addresses measures of exposure to multiple stressors throughout the lifespan. With the exposome concept, the science of exposure advances to an Environment-Wide Association Perspective, which might exhibit a stronger relationship with good health or disease conditions for an individual (phenotype). Thus, this critical review focused on the current progress of HB and exposome investigations, anticipating some challenges, strategies, and future needs to be taken into account for designing future surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Zuccherato Bocato
- Laboratório de Toxicologia Analítica e de Sistemas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - João Paulo Bianchi Ximenez
- Laboratório de Toxicologia Analítica e de Sistemas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- Departmento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Laboratório de Toxicologia Analítica e de Sistemas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
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Caetano T, Branco V, Cavaco A, Carvalho C. Risk assessment of methylmercury in pregnant women and newborns in the island of Madeira (Portugal) using exposure biomarkers and food-frequency questionnaires. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2019; 82:833-844. [PMID: 31482763 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2019.1658859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a contaminant present in fish which exerts a severe impact on health predominantly exhibiting neurotoxicity that might irreversibly affect fetal neurodevelopment. Fish consumption in Portugal is the third highest in the world, particularly high in regions with fishing tradition such as the Madeira Archipelago. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the risk of exposure to MeHg in a population of pregnant women residing in Madeira. Blood samples from pregnant women (533) and umbilical cord (194) were collected from volunteer participants collected at primary health services in Madeira (Portugal) and analyzed for total mercury (HgT) level. A food-frequency questionnaire was used to estimate exposure and indices of risk while HgT in blood were correlated with estimated exposure. Analysis of HgT levels in blood indicated that 30% of pregnant women surpassed the maximum safe level of 10 µg/L recommended by the WHO, which was derived from the consumption of predatory fish, rich in MeHg. In addition, HgT levels in cord blood were 1.3 fold higher than in maternal blood, indicating the high risk of exposure to MeHg in this population. It is thus important to provide nutritional advice concerning fish consumption as a food choice in order to reduce fetal exposure and potential neurologic damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Caetano
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Vasco Branco
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Afonso Cavaco
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Cristina Carvalho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
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Silva EFDSJD, Missio D, Martinez CS, Vassallo DV, Peçanha FM, Leivas FG, Brum DDS, Wiggers GA. Mercury at environmental relevant levels affects spermatozoa function and fertility capacity in bovine sperm. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2019; 82:268-278. [PMID: 30870101 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2019.1589608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the last several years human sperm quality was found to be significantly reduced and the role environmental contaminants play in this phenomenon remain to be determined. Mercury (Hg) is one of the most widespread contaminants; however the correlation between metal exposure and adverse consequences on human and animals fertility are not completely established. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of direct exposure to inorganic Hg on male gametes using spermatozoa (bovine sperm) which characteristically resemble human sperm. Sperm were divided and incubated for 0.5, 1 or 2 h at low levels of Hg: i) Control: without exposure; ii) Hg8 nM: mercury chloride (HgCl2) at 8 nM and iii) Hg8 μM: HgCl2 at 8 μM. Sperm kinetics, morphology, sperm membrane integrity, and in vitro fertilization were assessed. In addition the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity were measured. Hg exposure for 2 h impaired sperm morphology and membrane integrity as well as kinetic parameters including curvilinear velocity and straight-line velocity, which are needed for fertilization as evidenced by the reduced fertilization rate in 8 μM Hg-treated gametes. Hg enhanced oxidative stress in male sperm as reflected by elevated levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant capacity. Data demonstrated that low levels of Hg when incubated with spermatozoa are sufficient to increase oxidative stress, adversely affect sperm quality parameters, subsequently impairing sperm fertility capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniele Missio
- b Graduate Program in Animal Science , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Uruguaiana , Brazil
| | | | - Dalton Valentim Vassallo
- c Departments of Physiological Sciences , Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia , Vitória , Brazil
| | - Franck Maciel Peçanha
- a Graduate Program in Biochemistry , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Uruguaiana , Brazil
| | - Fabio Gallas Leivas
- b Graduate Program in Animal Science , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Uruguaiana , Brazil
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Wasserman JC, de Oliveira Silva L, de Pontes GC, de Paiva Lima E. Mercury contamination in the sludge of drinking water treatment plants dumping into a reservoir in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:28713-28724. [PMID: 30099710 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2899-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Although sludge piles from drinking water treatment plants can contain harmful substances, in many countries, their disposal methods are still unregulated. Besides aluminum, which is a major constituent in these residues, many other contaminants-like trace metals-can be present and may result from the quality of the raw materials used for water treatment. The application of these chemicals for the treatment of drinking water can generate toxic sludge and contaminate the produced water. In the present work, mercury contamination in the sludge piles of two drinking water treatment plants located along the margins of the Juturnaíba Reservoir, Southeast Brazil, was evaluated to verify whether contaminants are incorporated during water treatment. In the summer 2012, five cores were collected from the piles, and were analyzed for Eh, granulometry, total carbon, total nitrogen, and total mercury. The results indicated an anoxic environment, reflecting composition of the suspended matter. Carbon and nitrogen presented elevated concentrations, but also seemed to reproduce the characteristics of the suspended matter in the raw water. The concentrations of mercury were extremely variable but presented unexpectedly high values in some of the layers, reaching 18,484 ng g-1. On the other hand, concentrations ten times lower than those observed in the natural system (8 ng g-1) could be observed. It was concluded that the only possible source for the contamination of the sludge was the chemicals used for water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Cesar Wasserman
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), and Pós-Graduação em Sistemas de Gestão Sustentáveis, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Litorânea, Institute of Geosciences, office 406, Niterói, CEP 24210-346, Brazil.
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Oliveira CS, Nogara PA, Ardisson-Araújo DMP, Aschner M, Rocha JBT, Dórea JG. Neurodevelopmental Effects of Mercury. ADVANCES IN NEUROTOXICOLOGY 2018; 2:27-86. [PMID: 32346667 PMCID: PMC7188190 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ant.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The toxicology of mercury (Hg) is of concern since this metal is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, and living organisms are routinely exposed to Hg at low to high levels. The toxic effects of Hg are well studied and it is known that they may differ depending on the Hg chemical species. In this chapter, we emphasize the neurotoxic effects of Hg during brain development. The immature brain is more susceptible to Hg exposure, since all the Hg chemical forms, not only the organic ones, can harm it. The possible consequences of Hg exposure during the early stages of development, the additive effects with other co-occurring neurotoxicants, and the known mechanisms of action and targets will be addressed in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia S Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Pablo A Nogara
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel M P Ardisson-Araújo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Virologia de Insetos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - João B T Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - José G Dórea
- Professor Emeritus, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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Abstract
In this chapter, we provide an overview of the basic principles of teratology, beginning with its definition, the critical point for teratogenesis to occur and the most evident etiological agents to improve the understanding of this science.Teratology is a recent science that began in the early twentieth century, and has greatly improved over the recent years with the advancements in molecular biology, toxicology, animal laboratory science, and genetics, as well as the improvement on the knowledge of the environmental influences.Nevertheless, more work is required to reduce the influence of hazardous products that could be deleterious during pregnancy, thus reducing teratogenic defects in the newborn. While some teratogenic defects are attributed to their agents with certainty, the same for a lot of other such defects is lacking, necessitating consistent studies to decipher the influence of various teratogenic agents on their corresponding teratogenic defects. It is here that the laboratory animal science is of great importance both in the present and in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Calado
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria Dos Anjos Pires
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal. .,Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
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