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Tissue ²⁰³Hg Distribution in Young Holstein Calves after Single Tracer Oral Doses in Organic and Inorganic Forms^{1, 2,}

University of Georgia³, Athens 30601

Abstract

A single tracer oral dose of ²⁰³Hg as methyl mercury chloride or mercuric chloride was given to six, 10-week-old male Holstein calves which were sacrificed 7 days after dosing. Tissue accumulation and retention were far greater from the methyl mercury dose (P<.01), probably also indicating much higher absorption. Likewise, relative distribution of the two ²⁰³Hg forms was vastly different in various organs and tissues. Blood ²⁰³Hg was low, but, with methyl mercury chloride, the level was 200 times higher than with mercuric chloride (P<.01). Red blood cells contained more (P<.01) ²⁰³Hg than blood plasma. ²⁰³Hg concentrations were higher in kidney than any other organ from the methyl mercury chloride dose, but, with mercuric chloride, rumen wall levels were comparable to those of the kidney. Muscles (psoas, semitendinosus, supraspinatus) contained relatively high ²⁰³Hg concentrations from methyl mercury chloride (2% of dose/kg fresh tissues) but very low amounts from mercuric chloride (0.003% of dose/kg fresh tissues). Among whole organs, total ²⁰³Hg, from methyl mercury chloride, was distributed in the following descending order: liver; lung; kidney; heart; spleen; and testicle. With mercuric chloride, the order was similar.

¹ Supported in part by Public Health Service Research Grant No. AM-07367-NTN from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases.

² The authors are indebted to: Gold Kist, (Atlanta, Georgia) for feed used in raising the calves; to American Cyanamid (Princeton, New Jersey) for antibiotics; to Dawe's Laboratories, Inc. (Chicago, Illinois) for vitamins; to J. B. Jones (Agronomy Division, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia) for mineral analyses of the diet; to D. M. Blackmon, College of Veterinary Medicine, and J. W. Lassiter, Animal Science Department (both University of Georgia), for advice and technical assistance; and to Mrs. Dan E. Fowler, University of Georgia, for editorial assistance.

³ Dairy Science Department.