International Journal of Pediatrics 2013;40(5):489-493

doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1673-4408.2013.05.015

Progress on molecular mechanism of mercury induced neurotoxicity in children

Guixia CHEN ; Xiaoxin CHEN

Keywords

Children; Mercury exposure; Methyl mercury; Neurotoxicity; Molecular mechanism

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Mercury is one of the ubiquitous environmental neurotoxins which causes adverse effects on the development of children's neural system.Considering the severe neurotoxicity of mercury,finding and minimizing the sources of mercury exposure is essential for children's health.Amongst the mercury compounds,the toxicity of organic mercury is the most severe.Methyl mercury (MeHg) is the most detrimental and represents a major source of human exposure of mercury.Recent studies on molecular mechanisms of MeHg neurotoxicity points out that MeHg mainly mediates its toxic effects through the impairment of intraceilular calcium homeostasis,alteration of glutamate homeostasis,and oxidative stress.These concepts provide the biochemical interpreting of MeHg neurotoxicity.This review provides the current information on mercury,including environmental sources,neurotoxicity,and molecular mechanisms of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.It will be helpful to find some effective ways of interfering children mercury exposure.