Neurophysiological effects of methyl mercury on the nervous system.

There was electrophysiological and histological evidence of axonal degeneration in sural nerves of rats with methyl mercury intoxication. In monkeys, there was no sensory nerve involvement, whereas somatosensory and visual evoked potentials showed progressive slowing of their major peaks in the course of the intoxication. Pathological changes were confined to the calcarine cortex. The possibility of sensory nerve involvement in patients with organic mercury poisoning was discussed.