Absorption and disposition of 203Hg in the pregnant and nonpregnant hamster following oral administration of [203Hg]methylmercuric chloride

The absorption and disposition of 203Hg was determined in pregnant and nonpregnant golden hamsters by means of γ scintillation spectroscopy. The animals were given 5 μCi[203Hg]methylmercuric chloride orally on gestation Day 9. Urine and feces were collected until Day 15, when the animals were sacrificed. Adult and fetal tissues were analyzed for 203Hg concentrations. At 12 h postintubation, pregnant hamsters absorbed more of the administered dose and eliminated less methylmercury in the feces than nonpregnant animals. Beyond 12 h postintubation, the absorption and elimination patterns were similar in both groups. Comparison of organs from pregnant and nonpregnant animals revealed greater methylmercury concentrations in the cerebella, pons-medullas, and spleens of pregnant females. The fetal head was found to contain significantly more methylmercury than the fetal body