| Mercury intake by inflammatory phagocytes: in vivo cytology of mouse macrophages and neutrophils by X-ray elemental microanalysis coupled with scanning electron microscopy. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 15497820 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Phagocytes remove and store mercury (Hg) that enters the body. Macrophages and granulocytes respond in opposite ways to Hg: macrophages loose cell viability, and neutrophils become protected from apoptosis. We have investigated the cytology of early intake of Hg by macrophages and neutrophils after a short period (2-4 min) of in vivo exposure to HgCl2. The two types of phagocytes were attracted either to a subcutaneous air pouch or to the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice by in situ BSA injection. BSA caused, 72 hours later, inflammatory exudates where neutrophils (air-pouch cavity) or macrophages (peritoneal cavity) were the predominant cell type. A lethal dose of HgCl2 (25 mg) was then injected in the two inflammatory cavities. The mice died 2-4 min later and the cell exudates were harvested and studied by scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray elemental microanalysis (SEM-XRM). More than half of the phagocytes showed ingested Hg; a higher percentage of macrophages (around 70%) than neutrophils (around 50%) were positive for the metal. Intracellular particles of Hg were spheroid and presented a small diameter (less than 20 nm). They could be seen in large numbers inside phagocytes (up to 20-30 Hg dots per cell); they were scattered throughout the cytoplasm of the cells. The ability of phagocytes to ingest Hg increased as the BSA-induced inflammation progressed. We conclude that (i) Hg is quickly ingested as small particles by phagocytes; (ii) endocytosis of Hg increases with the degree of activation of phagocytes; and (iii) phagocytes internalize Hg by pinocytosis. |
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Authors:
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Elisabete M Cunha; Maria João R Oliveira; Paula G Ferreira; Artur P Aguas |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Human & experimental toxicology Volume: 23 ISSN: 0960-3271 ISO Abbreviation: Hum Exp Toxicol Publication Date: 2004 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2004-10-22 Completed Date: 2005-03-15 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9004560 Medline TA: Hum Exp Toxicol Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 447-53 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Anatomy, ICBAS (Abel Salazar Institute for Biomedical Sciences), University of Porto, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal. mcunha@icbas.up.pt |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Electron Probe Microanalysis / methods Female Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism*, ultrastructure* Mercuric Chloride / metabolism* Mercury / analysis* Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods Neutrophils / metabolism*, ultrastructure* Phagocytosis / physiology Pinocytosis / physiology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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7439-97-6/Mercury; 7487-94-7/Mercuric Chloride |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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