Poultry, Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Early Exposure to Mercuric Chloride or Methylmercury Alters Zebrafish Embryo (Danio rerio) Development

Louise C. Abbott, Eid A. M. Moussa, Taylor L. Carl, Daniel Cortez, Holly L. Clayton, Casey S. Holland, Katrina Lindsay and Said A.H. Hassan

Environmental mercury contamination is ubiquitous and toxic to developing embryos. Zebra fish embryos (ZFEs) were exposed for 24 h to different concentrations of mercuric chloride or methyl mercury. Exposure to 100 μg/L methyl mercury and 1000 μg/L mercuric chloride resulted in 100% mortality. ZFEs exposed to 100 μg/L or higher mercuric chloride exhibited decreased body length, deformed tails and reduced eye volume. Using Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry assessment at 30 h post fertilization, we determined that exposure to mercuric chloride did not alter cell proliferation in the developing brain. These ZFE data were compared to results obtained with methyl mercury exposure; both compounds produced delayed toxicity and methyl mercury is more toxic than mercuric chloride at equal concentrations.