Interactions of calcium, copper, iron, and zinc with methylmercury and selenium in guinea pig tissues

Female guinea pigs were exposed to 10 doses of 3 mg/kg body weight of methylmercuric chloride with or without concomitant equimolar doses of sodium selenite. Tissue concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, and zinc were determined 1, 14, and 28 d after the final dose, in red blood cells, plasma, pancreas, spleen, kidney, liver, cerebrum, and cerebellum. Various alterations were observed, most notably a marked depression in cerebellar calcium levels, a change that did not take place in the presence of selenium. The alterations are discussed in terms of their possible relevance to mechanisms of methylmercury toxicity and selenium protection against it.