Effects of inorganic mercury exposure in the alveolar bone of rats: an approach of qualitative and morphological aspects

• Published in: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 10; p. e12573
• Main Authors: Nunes, Paula Beatriz de Oliveira, Ferreira, Maria Karolina Martins, Ribeiro Frazão, Deborah, Bittencourt, Leonardo Oliveira, Chemelo, Victória Dos Santos, Silva, Márcia Cristina Freitas, Pereira-Neto, Armando Lopes, Albuquerque, Alan Rodrigo Leal, Paz, Simone Patricia Aranha, Angélica, Rômulo Simões, Pessanha, Sofia, Lima, Rafael Rodrigues
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PeerJ. Ltd 26-01-2022; PeerJ, Inc; PeerJ Inc
• Subjects: Alveolar bone; Animals; Biochemistry; Computed tomography; Fourier transforms; Infrared mineral characterization; Inorganic mercury; Laboratory animals; Mercuric chloride; Mercury - toxicity; Mercury chloride; Micro-computed tomography; Morphometry; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Skin; Software; Tomography; Toxicology; Infrared mineral characterization; Mercury chloride; Rats; Inorganic mercury; Micro-computed tomography; Alveolar bone
• ISSN: 2167-8359; 2167-8359
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12573

In comparison to organic mercury (MeHg), the environmental inorganic mercury (IHg) can be found in some skin-lightening cosmestics were considered "harmless" for a long time. However, recent studies have shown that long-term exposure to low doses of IHg may affect biological systems. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of IHg long-term exposure to the alveolar bone of adult rats.
Adult
rats were distributed in control and HgCl
exposed (0.375 mg/kg/day). After 45 days, the rats were euthanized and both blood and hemimandibles were collected. Total blood Hg levels were measured and both inorganic and organic components of the alveolar bone were determined through XRD and ATR-FTIR. The microstructure of the alveolar bone was assessed by using micro-CT and the morphometric analysis was performed by using stereomicroscopy.
Alterations in the physicochemical components of the alveolar bone of exposed animals were observed. The bone changes represented a tissue reaction at the microstructural level, such as bone volume increase. However, no significant dimensional changes (bone height) were observed.
Exposure to IHg at this dose can promote microstructural changes and alteration in the organic and inorganic components in the alveolar bone.