Acute Peritoneal Toxicity Of Mercuric Chloride

ObjectiveHeavy metal mercury is a common environmental pollutant,which has toxic effects on nervous system,digestive system,reproductive system and immune system.At present,there are few reports about the local toxicity of mercury on the body.In this paper,mice were used as experimental animal models,and the toxic effects of mercuric chloride on the immune cells of the abdominal cavity were investigated by intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride.Materials and MethodsTwo diffrent strains of mice,Kunming and FVB/N,were used to determine the Median Lethal Dose of mercuric chloride in female and male,by using Karber's method.Female FVB/N mice,were exposed mercuric chloride at a dose of 5mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection.After 1st,2nd,3rd,5th,7th and 9th days post injection,we measured serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and activity of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase.Also,we determinated serum level of IgE by using ELISA.The number of cells in the abdominal cavity,the apoptosis rate of the cells,the ratio of T and B cells were measured by Flow cytometer.ResultsThe Median Lethal Dose of female and male in Kunming,female and male in FVB/N,was 8.68mg/kg,8.89mg/kg,8.89mg/kg and 13.05mg/kg,respectively.First day post injection,the activity of transaminase of gluten,and second and third days,the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen,were significantly increased compared to those of control mice.Serum level of IgE was significantly increased on 9th day of the post mercuric injection.From first day,after injection,mercuric chloride significantly decreased the number of immune cells and percentage of B cells in the abdominal cavity,while increased the percentage of T cells.Compared with the control group,exposure to mercuric chloride significantly increased the apoptosis rate of the immune cells in the abdominal cavity from second day.Conclusions(1)the Median Lethal Dose of intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride in mice was between 8.68 and 13.05 mg/kg,and there was no significant difference between females and males.(2)intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride also increased serum IgE levels.(3)mercuric chloride has a direct toxic effect on the immune cells in the abdominal cavity and changes the constituent ratio of immune cells.