Metabolism of mercury in hamster pups administered a single dose of 203Hg-labeled methyl mercury.

Golden Syrian hamster pups were administered a single subcutaneous dose of 203Hg-labeled methyl mercury (MeHg), 0.4 nmol/g body weight, seven days after birth, and were sacrificed 2, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days later. The excretion of 203Hg followed a biphasic elimination pattern with an average half-time of 8.7 days for the rapid component. The slow component had a much longer half-time and probably reflects binding of 203Hg to growing hair. The concentration of 203Hg in the liver, kidneys and brain two days after administration was 0.44, 0.38 and 0.19 nmol/g, respectively. The retention of 203Hg was higher in the kidney than in the liver and the brain. The content of inorganic 203Hg in the liver and kidneys increased the first weeks after administration, demonstrating that hamsters are able to demethylate MeHg before two weeks of age.