Strain differences in excretion of methylmercury in mice

In a previous study, marked strain differences were found in the distribution and biological half-time of methylmercury (MeHg) in various strains of mice. The strain difference in MeHg distribution in the blood was explained clearly by the difference in the molecular structure and chemical affinity of hemoglobins for MeHg. Strain difference in the biological half-time, however, could not be explained by these chemical properties of hemoglobins. In the present study, excretion of MeHg was examined with 3 strains of mice under a supposition that the strain difference in MeHg excretion was one of the important causes of the strain difference in biological half time of MeHg in mice