Sciences de la volaille, de la pêche et de la faune
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Early Exposure to Mercuric Chloride or Methylmercury Alters Zebrafish Embryo (Danio rerio) Development

Louise C Abbott

Environmental mercury contamination is ubiquitous and toxic to developing embryos. Zebra fish embryos (ZFEs) were exposed for 24 h to different concentrations of mercuric chloride or methyl mercury. Exposure to 100 μg/L methyl mercury and 1000 μg/L mercuric chloride resulted in 100% mortality. ZFEs exposed to 100 μg/L or higher mercuric chloride exhibited decreased body length, deformed tails and reduced eye volume. Using Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry assessment at 30 h post fertilization, we determined that exposure to mercuric chloride did not alter cell proliferation in the developing brain. These ZFE data were compared to results obtained with methyl mercury exposure; both compounds produced delayed toxicity and methyl mercury is more toxic than mercuric chloride at equal concentrations.