INCREASED METHYL MERCURY RETENTION IN MICE CONSUMED WITH JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

When the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus infected mice were given methyl mercuric chloride (MMC) intraperitoneally, the mercury retention was increased in the blood and tissues of the JE mice compared to the control mice. However, the rate of mercury excretion was nearly the same in the both. In spite of the increased mercury concentrations in the liver of the JE mice, the total amount of mercury in the liver was about the same as the control mice, because of the reduced organ weight. Mercury content was actually increased only in the brain of the JE mice. In mice surviving after the JE virus infection, the rate of increase of mercury concentration in tissues was nearly proportional to the rate of maximum body weight loss. The consumption, due to the JE virus infection was presumed to be the major cause for the increased mercury retention.