有機水銀化合物処置マウスにおける血液および肝コリンエステラーゼ活性の変動

抄録

Changes of the activity of cholinesterase in mice treated with organic mercury compounds were examined. Diets containing ethylmercury chloride, methoxyethylmercury chloride, and propoxyethylmercury chloride were fed to mice continuously, and the first two compounds were intraperitoneally injected in a single administration. In continuous administration, cholinesterase activity in erythrocytes increased specifically in methoxyethylmercury-treated group. In all groups, cholinesterase activities in the brain were almost unchanged, while those in plasma increased and that in liver decreased, indicating that the increased activity in plasma may be derived from the liver. After a single injection, the activity of cholinesterase and other enzymes in serum increased, and then alteration of the cholinesterase activity in subcellular fractions of the liver was observed. It may be suggested, therefore, that organic mercury compounds have a toxic action of inducing disorders of cell function.