Enhancement of methyl mercury-induced lipid peroxidation by the addition of ascorbic acid.

Effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and methylmercuric chloride (MMC) in the presence of ascorbic acid on lipid peroxidation in rabbit renal cortical mitochondria were studied. The addition of ascorbic acid showed no effect on HgCl2-induced lipid peroxidation, but ascorbic acid plus MMC were able to stimulate the lipid peroxidation markedly. This result suggests that in the presence of ascorbic acid MMC has a powerful stimulatory effect on the lipid peroxidation in mitochondria.