Methylmercury alters the number and topography of NO-synthase positive neurons in embryonic retina: Protective effect of alpha-tocopherol

Methylmercury alters the number and topography of NO-synthase positive neurons in embryonic retina: Protective effect of alpha-tocopherol

Vertebrate retina has been shown to be an important target for mercury toxicity and very studies have shown the effect of mercury on the retinal ontogenesis. The nitrergic system plays an important role in the retinal development. The current work studied the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicology in vitro Vol. 53; pp. 89 - 98
Main Authors: Sampaio, Gabriela S.A., Oliveira, Karen Renata H.M., Kauffmann, Nayara, do Nascimento, José Luiz M., Souza, Givago S., Gomes, Bruno D., de Lima, Silene Maria A., Silveira, Luiz Carlos L., Rocha, Fernando Allan F., Herculano, Anderson M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2018
Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects:
Alpha-tocopherol
Density
Dimethylmercury
Embryonic retina
Exposure
Ganglion cell layer
Histochemistry
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Methylmercury
NADP
NADPH-diaphorase
Neurons
Neurotoxicity
NO-synthase
Retina
Spatial statistics
Tocopherol
Topography
Toxicity
Visual system
NO-synthase
Alpha-tocopherol
Embryonic retina
Ganglion cell layer
Methylmercury
Spatial statistics
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Summary:Vertebrate retina has been shown to be an important target for mercury toxicity and very studies have shown the effect of mercury on the retinal ontogenesis. The nitrergic system plays an important role in the retinal development. The current work studied the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure on the NO-synthase positive neurons (NADPH-diaphorase neurons or NADPH-d+) of the chick retinal ganglion cell layer at embryonic E15 and postnatal P1 days. Retinal flat mounts were stained for NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and mosaic properties of NADPH-d + were studied by plotting isodensity maps and employing density recovery profile technique. It was also evaluated the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol treatment on retinal tissues exposed to MeHg. MeHg exposure decreased the density of NADPH-d + neurons and altered cell mosaic properties at E15 but had very little or no effect at P1 retinas. Alpha-tocopherol has a protective effect against MeHg exposure at E15. MeHg alterations and alpha-tocopherol protective effect in embryonic retinas were demonstrated to be at work in experimental conditions. MeHg effect in the early phases of visual system development in natural conditions might use the nitrergic pathway and supplementary diet could have a protective effect. At later stages, this mechanism seems to be naturally protected. •Methylmercury (MeHg) induces alterations in embryonic retina.•Adult retina seems to be more resistant to MeHg effect than embryonic retina.•Alpha-tocopherol protects NADPH-diaphorase neurons in retinal tissue exposed to MeHg.
ISSN:0887-2333
1879-3177
DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2018.07.018