Evoked potential alterations following prenatal methyl mercury exposure

Pregnant hooded rats were administered either 5 mg/kg CH3, Hg or 0 mg/kg CH3 Hg by gastric intubation on day seven of gestation. Female offspring were implanted with recording electrodes 60 days after birth and had their cortically recorded visual evoked potentials studied at four different flash intensities. Mercury exposed animals had higher P1-N1 and N1-P2 amplitudes and shorter P2 and N2 latencies than controls. The data provides evidence that a single ingestion of CH3 Hg by pregnant rats is sufficient to produce long term alterations in CNS activity.