Methylmercury (MeHg) is a global environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects. Exposure to MeHg via consumption of seafood and fish can severely impact fetal neurobehavioral development even when MeHg levels in maternal blood are as low as about 5 μg/L, which the mother tolerates well. Persistent motor dysfunctions and cognitive deficits may result from trans-placental exposure. The present review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of MeHg toxicity during the period of nervous system development. Although cerebellar Purkinje cells are MeHg targets, the actions of MeHg on thiol components in the neuronal cytoskeleton as well as on mitochondrial enzymes and induction of disturbances of glutamate signaling can impair extra-cerebellar functions, also at levels well tolerated by adult individuals. Numerous herbal substances possess neuroprotective effects, predominantly represented by natural polyphenolic molecules that might be utilized to develop natural drugs to alleviate neurotoxicity symptoms caused by MeHg or other Hg compounds.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00204-022-03366-3 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Pediatric Neurology: Are We Missing the Connection? A Scoping Review.
J Child Neurol
December 2024
Harley French Medical Library, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA.
Introduction: Pediatric neurology provides care for children with complex developmental disorders with environmental, genetic, metabolic, and teratogenic etiologies. Common neurodevelopmental conditions include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder. However, only minimal attention from pediatric neurology journals has been devoted to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic Inflammation Offers Hints About Viable Therapeutic Targets for Preeclampsia and Potentially Related Offspring Sequelae.
Int J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
The combination of hypertension with systemic inflammation during pregnancy is a hallmark of preeclampsia, but both processes also convey dynamic information about its antecedents and correlates (e.g., fetal growth restriction) and potentially related offspring sequelae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrenatal Alcohol Exposure and Transient Systemic Hypoxia-Ischemia Result in Subtle Alterations in Dendritic Complexity in Medial Frontal Cortical Neurons in Juvenile and Young Adult Rat Offspring in a Pilot Study.
Cells
November 2024
Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental deficits resulting in impaired executive functioning and motor control. Intriguingly, PAE has been linked with an increased risk of transient systemic hypoxia-ischemia (TSHI), which alone results in suboptimal fetal growth and neurodevelopmental consequences. Here, using two translationally relevant preclinical models, we investigated the short-term and lasting effects of PAE and TSHI on the morphology of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a region important in executive function, and tested whether PAE interacts with TSHI to produce a distinct pattern of injury relative to either condition alone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNormative modeling of brain MRI data identifies small subcortical volumes and associations with cognitive function in youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Neuroimage Clin
December 2024
University of Minnesota Twin Cities, United States. Electronic address:
Aim: To quantify regional subcortical brain volume anomalies in youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), assess the relative sensitivity and specificity of abnormal volumes in FASD vs. a comparison group, and examine associations with cognitive function.
Method: Participants: 47 children with FASD and 39 typically-developing comparison participants, ages 8-17 years, who completed physical evaluations, cognitive and behavioral testing, and an MRI brain scan.
Taprenepag restores maternal-fetal interface homeostasis for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.
J Neuroinflammation
November 2024
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China.
Background And Purpose: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are characterized by abnormalities in brain development and neurobehaviors, including autism. The maternal-fetal interface (MFI) is a highly specialized tissue through which maternal factors affect fetal brain development. However, limited research exists on restoring and maintaining MFI homeostasis and its potential impact on NDDs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!