Dose and duration related methylmercury deposition, glycosidases inhibition, myelin degeneration and chelation therapy.

Methylmercury accumulation in different parts of the CNS (olfactory bulbs, cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, medulla oblongata and spinal cord) in relation to the cytoarchitectural changes in myelin sheath as well as in glycosidases levels have been reported. Male albino rats were treated with low and high doses of methylmercury chloride (1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) N-acetyl-DL-homocysteine thiolactone (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) and glutathione (100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) for varied time periods. The study shows a dose and duration dependent accumulation of mercury in all the CNS areas coinciding with a progressive myelin degeneration and inhibition of the glycosidases. A casual relationship between the amount of mercury accumulation and the extent of enzymes inhibition, in any particular area of CNS, could not be established. Similarly none of the antagonists is (though has been successful in recovering the enzymes and lessening the mercury burden in a few isolated cases) able to bring an absolute control value in any group.