Ultrastructural demonstration of mercury in Sertoli and Leydig cells of the rat following methyl mercuric chloride or mercuric chloride treatment

Reprod Toxicol. 1991;5(3):205-9. doi: 10.1016/0890-6238(91)90052-h.

Abstract

The autometallographic silver enhancement technique has been used to demonstrate the ultrastructural localization of mercury in the testes of adult rats. Administration of mercuric chloride or methyl mercuric chloride in the drinking water (20 mg/L for 12 weeks) resulted in intracellular accumulations of mercury in the interstitial Leydig cells as well as in the Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Leydig Cells / drug effects
  • Leydig Cells / ultrastructure*
  • Male
  • Mercuric Chloride / toxicity*
  • Methylmercury Compounds / toxicity*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Sertoli Cells / drug effects
  • Sertoli Cells / ultrastructure*
  • Silver Staining
  • Testis / drug effects
  • Testis / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Mercuric Chloride