Comparative study of the sensitivity of virgin and pregnant rats to methylmercury.

Pregnant and virgin female rats were dosed by gastric lavage 10 times or 5 times with 5 mg/kg mercury as methylmercury. Treatment of pregnant animals started on day 3 of gestation and ended on day 14 of gestation with two days break between the 5th and the 6th doses. In Group B, treatment lasted from day 10 to day 14 of gestation. Pregnant and virgin rats responded identically to methylmercury in terms of body weight changes, coordination disorders, and cerebellar histological changes. Furthermore, the brain, liver and kidney concentrations and the rates of methylmercury elimination in the post-treatment period were identical. Thus the results indicate no difference in sensitivity of pregnant versus non-pregnant animals.