Methylmercury Affects the Expression of Hypothalamic Neuropeptides That Control Body Weight in C57BL/6J Mice

Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology
Beatriz FerrerMichael Aschner

Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant that affects primarily the central nervous system (CNS), causing neurological alterations. An early symptom of MeHg poisoning is the loss of body weight and appetite. Moreover, the CNS has an important role in controlling energy homeostasis. It is known that in the hypothalamus nutrient and hormonal signals converge to orchestrate control of body weight and food intake. In this study, we investigated if MeHg is able to induce changes in the expression of key hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate energy homeostasis. Thus, hypothalamic neuronal mouse cell line GT 1-7 was treated with MeHg at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 5 µM). MeHg induced the expression of the anorexigenic neuropeptide pro-omiomelanocortin (Pomc) and the orexigenic peptide Agouti-related peptide (Agrp) in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting deregulation of mechanisms that control body weight. To confirm these in vitro observations, 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice (males and females) were exposed to MeHg in drinking water, modeling the most prevalent exposure route to this metal. After 30-day exposure, no changes in body weight were detected. However, MeHg treated males showed a significant decre...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 19, 2019·Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology·Samuel W CaitoMichael Aschner
Aug 14, 2020·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety·Paola Caroline Lacerda LeocádioJacqueline I Alvarez-Leite
Dec 11, 2020·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Beatriz FerrerMichael Aschner
Dec 19, 2020·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Beatriz FerrerMichael Aschner

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