[Comparative studies of 2 organic mercury compounds alone or in combination with ethanol following pre- or postnatal...

Studies on pre- and/or postnatal effects on mice were carried out with their identical exposure (2 mg Hg/kg body mass) to phenyl mercuric acetate or N,N'-bis-(dimethylmercury)-p-toluol-sulphonamide. Parameters of morphology, of residues, and behaviour teratology were taken into consideration. Potentiating combination effects were only observed with behaviour toxicological investigations after prenatal exposure to methylmercury. That concerned the breeding results of the P-generation and the capacity of the F1-generation to learn on the 30th and 31st day p.n. during a swimming test in a labyrinth. Synergistic effects were observed with both the mercury compounds in the swimming test on the 12th day p.n. after pre- as well as postnatal exposure.