JUNIPER PUBLISHERS-OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY
Methyl Mercury Injury to CNS: Mitochondria at the Core of the Matter?
Authored by Maria Rosaria Carratù
Methyl-mercury (MeHg) is one of the most hazardous environmental pollutants of great concern to public health and regulatory agencies because of its primary toxicity to the human central nervous system. The major source of MeHg exposure to the general population is through consumption of contaminated fish and other food products. MeHg, absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, is easily transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cysteine-facilitated transport of MeHg into the brain has been demonstrated, and in particular a neutral amino acid transport system capable of mediating MeHg-cysteine uptake has been identified in astrocytes where MeHg accumulation induces cell swelling and inhibition of glutamate uptake. Elevation of glutamate levels in the extracellular space may, in turn, trigger or accelerate processes of excitotoxic neuro degeneration. The rising of extracellular glutamate levels is responsible for the sustained activation of glutamate receptors, hence enhancing Na+ influx and Ca2+ release from intracellular organelles that may trigger a biochemical cascade which promotes the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
https://juniperpublishers.com/oajt/pdf/OAJT.MS.ID.555551.pdf
https://juniperpublishers.com/oajt/OAJT.MS.ID.555551.php
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