Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-PA 66075-110, Brazil.
Laboratory of Neurochemical Investigation, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa, Catarina, Florianópolis-SC 88040-900, Brazil.
Nutrients. 2019 Oct 26;11(11):2585. doi: 10.3390/nu11112585.
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is a serious problem of public health, especially in the Amazon. Exposure in riverine populations is responsible for neurobehavioral abnormalities. It was hypothesized that consumption of Amazonian fruits could protect by reducing mercury accumulation. This work analyzed the effects of commercial samples of (EO) for human consumption (10 μL/g) against MeHg i.p. exposure (2.5 mg/Kg), using neurobehavioral (open field, rotarod and pole tests), biochemical (lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels), aging-related (telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA expression) and toxicokinetic (MeHg content) parameters in mice. Both the pole and rotarod tests were the most sensitive tests accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels in brains. MeHg reduced TERT mRNA about 50% demonstrating a strong pro-aging effect. The EO intake, similar to that of human populations, prevented all alterations, without changing the mercury content, but avoiding neurotoxicity and premature aging of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Contrary to the hypothesis found in the literature on the possible chelating properties of Amazonian fruits consumption, the effect of EO would be essentially pharmacodynamics, and possible mechanisms are discussed. Our data already support the regular consumption of EO as an excellent option for exposed Amazonian populations to have additional protection against MeHg intoxication.
甲基汞（MeHg）暴露是一个严重的公共卫生问题，特别是在亚马逊地区。河流水域人群的暴露会导致神经行为异常。有人假设，食用亚马逊水果可以通过减少汞的积累来起到保护作用。本研究分析了商业样品（EO）对人类食用（10 μL/g）的影响，以对抗腹腔注射的甲基汞（MeHg，2.5 mg/Kg）暴露，使用神经行为（旷场、转棒和棒测试）、生化（脂质过氧化和亚硝酸盐水平）、与衰老相关的（端粒酶逆转录酶（TERT）mRNA 表达）和毒代动力学（MeHg 含量）参数来评估其在小鼠中的作用。棒和转棒测试都是最敏感的测试，伴随着大脑中脂质过氧化和亚硝酸盐水平的增加。MeHg 使 TERT mRNA 减少了约 50%，表明其具有很强的促衰老作用。EO 的摄入，类似于人类的摄入量，可以防止所有的改变，而不会改变汞含量，但可以避免中枢神经系统（CNS）的神经毒性和过早衰老。与文献中关于亚马逊水果消费可能具有螯合特性的假设相反，EO 的作用主要是药效学，讨论了可能的机制。我们的数据已经支持了 EO 的常规消费，作为对暴露在亚马逊地区的人群的额外保护，以防止甲基汞中毒。
