In this study, we assessed mercury (Hg) exposure in several tissues (brain, liver, and breast and primary feathers) in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) collected from across five Great Lakes states (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) between 2002-2010, and assessed relationships between brain Hg and neurochemical receptors (NMDA and GABA(A)) and enzymes (glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)). Brain total Hg (THg) levels (dry weight basis) averaged 2.80 μg/g (range: 0.2-34.01), and levels were highest in Michigan birds. THg levels in liver (r(p) = 0.805) and breast feathers (r(p) = 0.611) significantly correlated with those in brain. Brain Hg was not associated with binding to the GABA(A) receptor. Brain THg and inorganic Hg (IHg) were significantly positively correlated with GS activity (THg r(p) = 0.190; IHg r(p) = 0.188) and negatively correlated with NMDA receptor levels (THg r(p) = -0245; IHg r(p) = -0.282), and IHg was negatively correlated with GAD activity (r(s) = -0.196). We also report upon Hg demethylation and relationships between Hg and Se in brain and liver. These results suggest that bald eagles in the Great Lakes region are exposed to Hg at levels capable of causing subclinical neurological damage, and that when tissue burdens are related to proposed avian thresholds approximately 14-27% of eagles studied here may be at risk.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0730-1 | DOI Listing |
World Neurosurg
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Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
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Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center. Electronic address:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are linked to cancer, learning disabilities, liver and cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Older schools often contain high levels of PCBs, and inhalation is a major source of exposure. Technical PCB mixtures, called Aroclors, and individual dioxin-like PCBs impair adipocyte function, which can lead to type II diabetes.
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Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
Interspecies differences in human, pig and sheep corneal thickness may affect the colonization. Currently, there is no research investigating the impact of these differences, along with variable storage and culture conditions on infection in cornea models. These factors could significantly influence utilizing models for drug testing research.
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Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Consortium for Mitochondrial Research, UCL, London, UK.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes genes essential for oxidative phosphorylation. The m.3243A>G mutation causes severe disease, including myopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and is the most common pathogenic mtDNA mutation in humans.
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