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Methylmercury Induced Neurotoxicity and the Influence of Selenium in the Brains of Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Authors :
Rasinger JD
Lundebye AK
Penglase SJ
Ellingsen S
Amlund H
Source :
International journal of molecular sciences [Int J Mol Sci] 2017 Mar 29; Vol. 18 (4). Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Mar 29.
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

The neurotoxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) is well characterised, and the ameliorating effects of selenium have been described. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms behind this contaminant-nutrient interaction. We investigated the influence of selenium (as selenomethionine, SeMet) and MeHg on mercury accumulation and protein expression in the brain of adult zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). Fish were fed diets containing elevated levels of MeHg and/or SeMet in a 2 × 2 full factorial design for eight weeks. Mercury concentrations were highest in the brain tissue of MeHg-exposed fish compared to the controls, whereas lower levels of mercury were found in the brain of zebrafish fed both MeHg and SeMet compared with the fish fed MeHg alone. The expression levels of proteins associated with gap junction signalling, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction were significantly ( p < 0.05) altered in the brain of zebrafish after exposure to MeHg and SeMet alone or in combination. Analysis of upstream regulators indicated that these changes were linked to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways, which were activated by MeHg and inhibited by SeMet, possibly through a reactive oxygen species mediated differential activation of RICTOR, the rapamycin-insensitive binding partner of mTOR.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1422-0067
Volume :
18
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
International journal of molecular sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
28353644
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18040725