(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1987) Curle, D.C.; Ray, M.; Persaud, T.V.N.
Varying dose levels of methylmercuric
chloride (MMC), 1000 ppm (5 mg through 15 mglkg of
body weight), were administered via an intragastric tube
to pregnant ICR SwissIWebster mice on day 9 of
gestation. The animals were killed on gestational day 18
and the fetuses removed. Fetal lung sections were
processed for light and electron microscopy. A group of
animals treated with physiological saline in a similar
mannner served as the controls. The fetal lungs from
treated animals were hypoplastic and retarded in
development. The severity of pulmonary changes
increased with the dose-levels of MMC. Vacuolation and
lysis of mitochondria were seen in fetal lungs.
Mitochondrial damage increased in severity with doselevel
of methylmercuric chloride.