Toxicological Research

Korean Society of Toxicology & Korea Environmental Mutagen Society (한국독성학회)
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Oral methylmercury intoxication aggravates cardiovascular risk factors and accelerates atherosclerosis lesion development in ApoE knockout and C57BL/6 mice

  • Silva, Janayne L. (Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia ICB/UFMG Caixa Postal 486) ;
  • Leocadio, Paola C.L. (Departamento de Nutricao e Saude, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) ;
  • Reis, Jonas M. (Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia ICB/UFMG Caixa Postal 486) ;
  • Campos, Gianne P. (Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) ;
  • Capettini, Luciano S.A. (Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) ;
  • Foureaux, Giselle (Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) ;
  • Ferreira, Anderson J. (Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) ;
  • Windmoller, Claudia C. (Departamento de Quimica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) ;
  • Santos, Flavia A. (Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal Do Ceara) ;
  • Oria, Reinaldo B. (Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal Do Ceara) ;
  • Crespo-Lopez, Maria E. (Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal do Para) ;
  • Alvarez-Leite, Jacqueline I. (Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia ICB/UFMG Caixa Postal 486)
  • Received : 2020.07.12
  • Accepted : 2020.09.23
  • Published : 2021.07.15
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Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) intoxication is associated with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and atherosclerosis by mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. We investigated the effects of MeHg intoxication in atherosclerosis-prone (ApoE-KO) and resistant C57BL/6 mice. Mice were submitted to carotid stenosis surgery (to induce atherosclerosis faster) and received water or MeHg solution (20 mg/L) for 15 days. Tail plethysmography was performed before and after MeHg exposure. Food and MeHg solution intakes were monitored weekly. On the 15th day, mice were submitted to intravital fluorescence microscopy of mesenteric vasculature to observe in vivo leukocyte rolling and adhesion. Results showed that despite the high hair and liver Hg concentrations in the MeHg group, food and water (or MeHg solution) consumption and liver function marker levels were similar to those in controls. MeHg exposure increased total cholesterol, the atherogenic (non-HDL) fraction and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. MeHg exposure also induced inflammation, as seen by the increased rolling and adhered leukocytes in the mesenteric vasculature. Atherosclerosis lesions were more extensive in the aorta and carotid sites of MeHg-ApoE knockout mice. Surprisingly, MeHg exposure also induced atherosclerosis lesions in C57BL/6 mice, which are resistant to atherosclerosis formation. We concluded that MeHg intoxication might represent a risk for cardiovascular diseases since it accelerates atherogenesis by exacerbating several independent risk factors.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) PROCAD 88881.068408/2014-01. The authors also thank the Image Acquisition and Processing Center (CAPI-ICB/UFMG) for the use of imaging equipment.

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