Introduction During combustion, the mercury (Hg) in coal is volatilized and converted to elemental mercury (Hg) vapor in the high temperature regions of coal-fired boilers. As the flue gas is cooled, a series of complex reactions begin to convert Hg to ionic mercury (Hg) compounds and/or Hg compounds (Hgp) that are in a solid-phase at flue gas cleaning temperatures or Hg that is adsorbed onto t...

BACKGROUND The effect of segment-specific proximal tubular injury on spatio-temporal osteopontin (OPN) distribution was determined in two different nephrotoxic rat models to evaluate its conceivability with a possible role for OPN in acute renal failure (ARF). OPN gene expression was further determined in proximal and distal tubular cells to investigate the origin of increased renal OPN. METH...

Two chelating agents meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and sodium 2,3-dimercapto-propane-1-sulphonate (DMPS) were tested for their efficiency in mercury removal from the body of rats in the presence and in the absence of selenium. Female Wistar rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride or an equimolar mixture of mercuric chloride and sodium selenite (1.5 micr...

We investigated the effects of Heterodera glycines cyst components and surface disinfestants on hatching of H. glycines eggs in vitro. Eggs were incubated in either H. glycines cyst wall fragments, cyst wall and egg rinsate, egg homogenate, or control solutions of soybean root diffusate, sterile distilled water, or zinc sulfate. Hatch in cyst wall and egg rinsate, and egg homogenate, was greate...

Mercury has a long history as an antimicrobial agent effective against eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Despite its prolonged use, the basis for mercury toxicity in prokaryotes is not well understood. Archaea, like bacteria, are prokaryotes but they use a simplified version of the eukaryotic transcription apparatus. This study examined the mechanism of mercury toxicity to the archaeal prok...

BACKGROUND Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) induces an autoimmune nephritis in the Brown Norway (BN) rats characterized by anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies (anti-GBM Ab) deposition, proteinuria and a severe interstitial nephritis, all evident at day 13 of the disease. We assessed the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (at-RA) in this experimental model. At-RA is a vitamin A metabolite whic...

Survival of freezing not only requires organisms to tolerate ice formation within their body, but also depends on the rapid redistribution of water and cryoprotective compounds between intra- and extracellular compartments. Aquaporins are transmembrane proteins that serve as the major pathway through which water and small uncharged solutes (e.g. glycerol) enter and leave the cell. Consequently,...

The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different means of depleting glutathione (GSH) in the kidneys and liver on the renal and hepatic accumulation and disposition of a nontoxic dose of inorganic mercury. Renal and hepatic disposition of mercury were evaluated 1 hr after the intravenous administration of a 0.5 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride in control rats and ...

The present study investigates the influence of methanolic fraction (MF) of Tribulus terrestris fruit extract on the kidney tissues of mercury intoxicated mice, Mus musculus. At median-lethal dose of mercuric chloride (12.9 mg/kg body weight), the whole kidney tissue showed an increased level of lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and simultaneously a decreased lev...

Right ventricle systolic dysfunction is a major risk factor for death and heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). Heavy metal exposure has been associated with the development of several cardiovascular diseases, such as MI. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic exposure to low doses of mercury chloride (HgCl2) enhances the functional deterioration of right ventricle s...