Absorption of mercuric sulphide following oral administration in mice

Mercuric sulphide or its counterpart cinnabar occurring in nature has long been associated with Chinese traditional medicine. Because of the reputed insolubility of this compound it has been assumed that it would not be significantly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. In this study groups of mice were fed a diet containing either mercuric sulphide or cinnabar. Their urine was collected on alternate days for a 1-week period at the end of which they were killed and their livers and kidneys assayed for mercury by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mercury contents in their urine and organs were found to be significantly higher compared to control mice (P less than 0.001) indicating that significant absorption of mercury from the gut has occurred.