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Relationship between platelet monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity and mercury exposure in fish consumers from the Lake St. Pierre region of Que., Canada.
- Source :
-
Neurotoxicology [Neurotoxicology] 2006 May; Vol. 27 (3), pp. 429-36. Date of Electronic Publication: 2006 Feb 21. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Mercury (Hg) is a widespread neurotoxic compound that bio-accumulates in fish and marine mammals. Monoamine oxidase (MAO; EC 1.4.3.4) regulates biogenic amine concentration in the brain and peripheral tissue and has been shown to be a molecular target of Hg compounds in animal models. Blood platelet monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity may reflect MAO function in the central nervous tissue. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between platelet MAO-B and Hg exposure in fish-eating adults (n=127) living along the St. Lawrence River (Lake St. Pierre, Que., Canada). Hg concentrations were determined in blood and hair samples. A significant negative association was observed between platelet MAO-B activity and blood-Hg (r=-0.193, p=0.029) but not with hair-Hg levels (r=-0.125, p=0.169). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that blood-Hg (beta=-4.6, p=0.011) and heavy smoking (beta=-8.5, p=0.001) were associated with reduced platelet MAO activity in the total population. In addition, this reduction in MAO-B activity appeared to be associated with blood-Hg concentrations above 3.4 microg/L (75th percentile). Possible gender related differences were also observed and are discussed. Our results suggest that MAO-B activity in blood platelets may be a useful tool to assess biochemical effects of Hg exposure in human populations. These changes in platelet MAO-B may reflect enzymatic changes in nervous tissue and should be further investigated as a surrogate marker of neurotoxicity.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Animals
Child
Environmental Pollutants
Female
Fishes
Humans
Male
Mercury analysis
Mercury pharmacokinetics
Middle Aged
Predictive Value of Tests
Quebec
Residence Characteristics statistics & numerical data
Sex Factors
Spectrometry, Fluorescence methods
Blood Platelets enzymology
Food Contamination
Mercury blood
Monoamine Oxidase blood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0161-813X
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neurotoxicology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16494947
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2005.12.005