Related Experiment Videos
Methyl mercury, mercuric chloride, and silver lactate decrease superoxide anion formation and chemotaxis in human
N Obel1, B Hansen, M M Christensen
1Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Marselisborg Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Abstract:
Cytotoxic effects of mercuric chloride, methyl mercury, and silver lactate on polymorphonuclear leucocytes have been examined by assaying superoxide anion formation capability and chemotaxis of metal-exposed cells. Both superoxide anion formation and chemotaxis were negatively affected by all three metal compounds. Both bacteriotoxic functions were affected in a dose-dependent fashion, the functional deficits were seen at doses not affecting cell viability. Dose-response curves were remarkably similar for all three compounds. The bacteriotoxic capacity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes may be hampered by mercury and silver.