Relationship between the prenatal exposure to low-level of mercury and the size of a newborn’s cerebellum

Čače, Iva Bilić; Milardović, Ana; Prpić, Igor; Krajina, Robert; Petrović, Oleg; Vukelić, Petar; Špirić, Zdravko; Horvat, Milena; Mazej, Darja; Snoj, J.

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2010.12.005

Cited by 35 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Cace et al (2011) measured cerebellum length and width in 30 newborn babies of mothers with hair mercury levels above 1 mg/kg (mean: 2.37 mg/kg) and compared to 107 controls (mean: 0.46 mg/kg). The children of mothers with high mercury levels had shorter cerebellum, compared to the controls (18.4 vs. 20 mm, p = 0.019).…”

Section: Developmental Toxicity Other Than Neurotoxicity and Immunotomentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food

2012

EFS2

465

160

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EFSA was asked by the European Commission to consider new developments regarding inorganic mercury and methylmercury toxicity and evaluate whether the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) provisional tolerable weekly intakes for methylmercury of 1.6 µg/kg body weight (b.w.) and of 4 µg/kg b.w. for inorganic mercury were still appropriate. In line with JECFA, the CONTAM Panel established a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for inorganic mercury of 4 µg/kg b.w., expressed as mercury. For methylmercury, new developments in epidemiological studies from the Seychelles Child Developmental Study Nutrition Cohort have indicated that n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish may counteract negative effects from methylmercury exposure. Together with the information that beneficial nutrients in fish may have confounded previous adverse outcomes in child cohort studies from the Faroe Islands, the Panel established a TWI for methylmercury of 1.3 µg/kg b.w., expressed as mercury. The mean dietary exposure across age groups does not exceed the TWI for methylmercury, with the exception of toddlers and other children in some surveys. The 95 th percentile dietary exposure is close to or above the TWI for all age groups. High fish consumers, which might include pregnant women, may exceed the TWI by up to approximately six-fold. Unborn children constitute the most vulnerable group. Biomonitoring data from blood and hair indicate that methylmercury exposure is generally below the TWI in Europe, but higher levels are also observed. Exposure to methylmercury above the TWI is of concern. If measures to reduce methylmercury exposure are considered, the potential beneficial effects of fish consumption should also be taken into account. Dietary inorganic mercury exposure in Europe does not exceed the TWI, but inhalation exposure of elemental mercury from dental amalgam is likely to increase the internal inorganic mercury exposure; thus the TWI might be exceeded. This opinion focuses only on the risks related to dietary inorganic mercury and methylmercury exposure and does not assess the nutritional benefits linked to certain foods (e.g. fish and other seafood).A call for annual collection of chemical contaminant occurrence data in food and feed, including mercury, was issued by EFSA in December 2010. In response, EFSA received 59 820 results on mercury in food from 20 European countries, mainly covering the period from 2004 to 2011. A total number of 59 650 results were described with sufficient detail to be used in the statistical analysis of the respective food groups; 98.2 % of the samples were for total mercury, 1.8 % for methylmercury and three samples for inorganic mercury.All the 20 food groups available at the first level of FoodEx were covered in the current data collection. The food groups 'Fish and other seafood' and 'Meat and meat products' dominated the food product coverage with 36.8 % and 17.6 % respectively. These were followed by 'Grain and grain-based products' at 7.8 % and 'Vegetables an...

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Section: Developmental Toxicity Other Than Neurotoxicity and Immunotomentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food

2012

EFS2

465

160

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“…This medical phenomenon is known as fetal Minamata disease (FMD). Characteristic neuropathological changes in patients with FMD include (i) bilateral cerebral atrophy and hypoplasia with a decrease in the number of cortical neurons; (ii) underdevelopment of neurons, including small somata and short dendrites; (iii) cerebellar atrophy and hypoplasia with a reduction of the cerebellar granule cell layer; (iv) hypoplasia of the corpus callosum; (v) dysmyelination of white matter; and (vi) hydrocephalus (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). These abnormalities suggest that MeHg causes multiple deficits in neurons and glia, including abnormal migration, differentiation, and growth (9,10).…”

Section: +mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies demonstrate that there are large numbers of ectopic cerebellar granule cells in the brains of FMD patients (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8), suggesting that cerebellar granule cells are highly vulnerable to MeHg exposure. The most vulnerable period of cerebellar development in humans for MeHg exposure is during the third trimester (18).…”

Section: +mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rescue of neuronal migration deficits in a mouse model of fetal Minamata disease by increasing neuronal Ca²⁺spike frequency

Fahrion

Komuro

Liu

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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In the brains of patients with fetal Minamata disease (FMD), which is caused by exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) during development, many neurons are hypoplastic, ectopic, and disoriented, indicating disrupted migration, maturation, and growth. MeHg affects a myriad of signaling molecules, but little is known about which signals are primary targets for MeHg-induced deficits in neuronal development. In this study, using a mouse model of FMD, we examined how MeHg affects the migration of cerebellar granule cells during early postnatal development. The cerebellum is one of the most susceptible brain regions to MeHg exposure, and profound loss of cerebellar granule cells is detected in the brains of patients with FMD. We show that MeHg inhibits granule cell migration by reducing the frequency of somal Ca 2+ spikes through alterations in Ca 2+ , cAMP, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling. First, MeHg slows the speed of granule cell migration in a dose-dependent manner, independent of the mode of migration. Second, MeHg reduces the frequency of spontaneous Ca 2+ spikes in granule cell somata in a dose-dependent manner. Third, a unique in vivo live-imaging system for cell migration reveals that reducing the inhibitory effects of MeHg on somal Ca 2+ spike frequency by stimulating internal Ca 2+ release and Ca 2+ influxes, inhibiting cAMP activity, or activating IGF1 receptors ameliorates the inhibitory effects of MeHg on granule cell migration. These results suggest that alteration of Ca 2+ spike frequency and Ca 2+, cAMP, and IGF1 signaling could be potential therapeutic targets for infants with MeHg intoxication.abnormal neuronal migration | congenital methylmercury poisoning

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“…Exposure during pregnancy is of particular concern due to its neurotoxic effects in utero [1][2][3][4]. Reduced brain size, cortical blindness, and deficits in motor function, language development, memory, and visual-spatial abilities have been observed in children prenatally exposed to high levels of methylmercury (MeHg); lower exposure may result in more subtle cognitive and neurologic deficits [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A community-based approach to disseminate health information on the hazards of prenatal mercury exposure in Brooklyn, NY

Callejo

Geer

2012

J Community Health

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Exposure to mercury (Hg) in utero can have neurotoxic effects on the developing fetus. Mercury exposure in women of childbearing age has been associated with frequent fish consumption, coastal proximity, foreign birth, and exposure during ritualistic practices. The aim of this study was to identify culturally-appropriate strategies to disseminate messages on the hazards of in utero Hg exposure in fertile and pregnant women in a predominantly urban immigrant community in Flatbush, Brooklyn, following findings from a recent study on mercury exposure in this community. Nineteen key informant interviews were conducted in Flatbush, Brooklyn with community members, medical professionals, fishmongers, and a religious practitioner to solicit feedback on culturally sensitive methods to educate the community on Hg hazards. The main themes identified include clinical integration, where providers integrate the message in routine care; community integration, whereby influential organizations and community members foster message delivery; media usage; and message reinforcement via continuous exposure. It is vital for healthcare providers and public health practitioners to be culturally sensitive in educating their patients on fish selection during pregnancy and safety of handling Hg. Instead of a single approach, a combination of media and educational strategies would help to reinforce the message. These findings form a basis for public health campaigns to apprise other urban immigrant communities of the hazards of in utero Hg exposure.

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Relationship between the prenatal exposure to low-level of mercury and the size of a newborn’s cerebellum

Cited by 35 publications

References 13 publications

Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food

Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food

Rescue of neuronal migration deficits in a mouse model of fetal Minamata disease by increasing neuronal Ca²⁺spike frequency

A community-based approach to disseminate health information on the hazards of prenatal mercury exposure in Brooklyn, NY

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Relationship between the prenatal exposure to low-level of mercury and the size of a newborn’s cerebellum

Cited by 35 publications

References 13 publications

Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food

Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food

Rescue of neuronal migration deficits in a mouse model of fetal Minamata disease by increasing neuronal Ca2+spike frequency

A community-based approach to disseminate health information on the hazards of prenatal mercury exposure in Brooklyn, NY

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Product

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Rescue of neuronal migration deficits in a mouse model of fetal Minamata disease by increasing neuronal Ca²⁺spike frequency