Subtle consequences of methylmercury exposure: Behavioral deviations in offspring of treated mothers

Joan M. Spyker; Sheldon B. Sparber; Alan M. Goldberg

doi:10.1126/science.177.4049.621

Subtle consequences of methylmercury exposure: Behavioral deviations in offspring of treated mothers

Joan M. Spyker, Sheldon B. Sparber, Alan M. Goldberg

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169 Scopus citations

Abstract

Overt neurological impairment is the endpoint currently used to document a case of methylmercury poisoning. No consideration is given to possible subtle consequences. Offspring from mice exposed to methylmercury on day 7 or 9 of pregnancy were apparently unaffected during postnatal development. However, subtle behavioral differences between treated and control offspring were found when the overtly normal animals were tested in an open field and evaluated in a swimming apparatus at 1 month of age. Brain weight, protein, choline acetyltransferase, and cholinesterase were not significantly altered.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	621-623
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	177
Issue number	4049
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.177.4049.621
State	Published - 1972
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Subtle consequences of methylmercury exposure: Behavioral deviations in offspring of treated mothers",

abstract = "Overt neurological impairment is the endpoint currently used to document a case of methylmercury poisoning. No consideration is given to possible subtle consequences. Offspring from mice exposed to methylmercury on day 7 or 9 of pregnancy were apparently unaffected during postnatal development. However, subtle behavioral differences between treated and control offspring were found when the overtly normal animals were tested in an open field and evaluated in a swimming apparatus at 1 month of age. Brain weight, protein, choline acetyltransferase, and cholinesterase were not significantly altered.",

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year = "1972",

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AU - Goldberg, Alan M.

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N2 - Overt neurological impairment is the endpoint currently used to document a case of methylmercury poisoning. No consideration is given to possible subtle consequences. Offspring from mice exposed to methylmercury on day 7 or 9 of pregnancy were apparently unaffected during postnatal development. However, subtle behavioral differences between treated and control offspring were found when the overtly normal animals were tested in an open field and evaluated in a swimming apparatus at 1 month of age. Brain weight, protein, choline acetyltransferase, and cholinesterase were not significantly altered.

AB - Overt neurological impairment is the endpoint currently used to document a case of methylmercury poisoning. No consideration is given to possible subtle consequences. Offspring from mice exposed to methylmercury on day 7 or 9 of pregnancy were apparently unaffected during postnatal development. However, subtle behavioral differences between treated and control offspring were found when the overtly normal animals were tested in an open field and evaluated in a swimming apparatus at 1 month of age. Brain weight, protein, choline acetyltransferase, and cholinesterase were not significantly altered.

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Subtle consequences of methylmercury exposure: Behavioral deviations in offspring of treated mothers

Abstract

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