Biochemical effects of mercury poisoning in rats.

Acute HgCl2 poisoning was shown to decrease significantly the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PyDH) and alpha-ketoglutanic dehydrogenese (alphaKgDH) activity in the kidney and liver but not in the brain. Rats receiving 77% of the 2 hr 50% lethal dose showed 57% of normal renal PyDH activity and 69% of normal renal alphaKgDH activity. Chronic Hg Cl2 poisoning resulted in an unexpected increase in PyDH and alphaKgDH activity in the kidneys where mercury was most concentrated. In acute methyl mercury injection, no significant effect on PyDH or alpha KgDH activities was observed after 2 days. Less mercury was accumulated in the tissues with methyl mercury poisoning than in the other treatments.