The fate of methylmercury through the formation of bismethylmercury sulfide as an intermediate in mice

Abstract A previous study by our group indicated that methylmercury (MeHg) is biotransformed to bismethylmercury sulfide [(MeHg)2S)] by interaction with reactive sulfur species (RSS) produced in the body. In the present study, we explored the transformation of MeHg to (MeHg)2S in the gut and the sub...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Yumi Abiko, Yusuke Katayama, Wenyang Zhao, Sawako Horai, Kenji Sakurai, Yoshito Kumagai
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:
R
Q
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/9ff19bce70354b1192b4c04562513d22
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
Descripción
Sumario:Abstract A previous study by our group indicated that methylmercury (MeHg) is biotransformed to bismethylmercury sulfide [(MeHg)2S)] by interaction with reactive sulfur species (RSS) produced in the body. In the present study, we explored the transformation of MeHg to (MeHg)2S in the gut and the subsequent fate of (MeHg)2S in vitro and in vivo. An ex vivo experiment suggested the possibility of the extracellular transformation of MeHg to (MeHg)2S in the distal colon, and accordingly, the MeHg sulfur adduct was detected in the intestinal contents and feces of mice administered MeHg, suggesting that (MeHg)2S is formed through reactions between MeHg and RSS in the gut. In a cell-free system, we found that (MeHg)2S undergoes degradation in a time-dependent manner, resulting in the formation of mercury sulfide and dimethylmercury (DMeHg), as determined by X-ray diffraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, respectively. We also identified DMeHg in the expiration after the intraperitoneal administration of (MeHg)2S to mice. Thus, our present study identified a new fate of MeHg through (MeHg)2S as an intermediate, which leads to conversion of volatile DMeHg in the body.