Time dependent distribution of [203Hg] mercuric nitrate in the subcellular fractions of rat and fish liver.

Cytotoxicity of inorganic mercury to the liver of two species, Anabas testudineus and Sprague Dawley male rat was evaluated. Distribution kinetics of this metal in the different hepatic subcellular fractions were followed for 48 h after a single injection of [203Hg] mercuric nitrate at a dose of 4mg/kg b.w. Interaction of this metal with protein, DNA and RNA was also studied. In rat, nuclear and lysosomal fractions showed a significant increase in the protein content, while in fish, the amount of protein increased in all fractions except microsome. Comparatively more mercury was bound to protein in fish during the later phase of treatment. Retention of mercury in nuclear DNA of rat gradually declined from 15 min to 48 h of treatment, while, mitochondrial DNA binding to mercury increased from 15 min to 2 h of post injection and then declined in the later phase of the experiment. Such a biphasic binding pattern of mercury was shown by both the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of the fish. The nuclear RNA of rat and mitochondrial and cytosolic RNA of both test species also showed a biphasic pattern of mercury binding, however, with a higher rate of binding in fish at the later phase of the experiment. The present study thus highlights that (a) mercury follows a definite distribution pattern in the subcellular fractions of the liver in both animal species, (b) cytosol is the major site of mercury accumulation.