Abstract
A single tracer oral dose of 203Hg as methyl mercury chloride or mercuric chloride was given to six, 10-week-old male Holstein calves which were sacrificed 7 days after dosing. Tissue accumulation and retention were far greater from the methyl mercury dose (P<.01), probably also indicating much higher absorption. Likewise, relative distribution of the two 203Hg forms was vastly different in various organs and tissues. Blood 203Hg was low, but, with methyl mercury chloride, the level was 200 times higher than with mercuric chloride (P<.01). Red blood cells contained more (P<.01) 203Hg than blood plasma. 203Hg concentrations were higher in kidney than any other organ from the methyl mercury chloride dose, but, with mercuric chloride, rumen wall levels were comparable to those of the kidney. Muscles (psoas, semitendinosus, supraspinatus) contained relatively high 203Hg concentrations from methyl mercury chloride (2% of dose/kg fresh tissues) but very low amounts from mercuric chloride (0.003% of dose/kg fresh tissues). Among whole organs, total 203Hg, from methyl mercury chloride, was distributed in the following descending order: liver; lung; kidney; heart; spleen; and testicle. With mercuric chloride, the order was similar. Copyright © 1973. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1973 by American Society of Animal Science.