<i>In vivo</i> evaluation of the potential protective effects of prolactin against damage caused by methylmercury

Cunha, L.; Bonfim, L.; Lima, G.; Silva, R.; Silva, L.; Lima, P.; Oliveira-Bahia, V.; Freitas, J.; Burbano, R.; Rocha, C.

doi:10.1590/1414-431X2022e11976

Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Brasil

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research

Español English

Brasil

Español English

sumário « anterior atual seguinte »

Sumário

Research Article • Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 55 • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2022e11976 copy

In vivo evaluation of the potential protective effects of prolactin against damage caused by methylmercury

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Non-biodegradable metals such as mercury accumulate in living organisms during life (bioaccumulation) and also within trophic webs (biomagnification) and may reach high concentrations in humans. The contamination of humans by mercury in drinking water and food may be common, in particular in riverside communities that have a diet rich in fish. In vitro studies of human cell lines exposed to the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of methylmercury have shown that prolactin has potential cytoprotective properties and may act as a co-mitogenic factor and inhibitor of apoptosis. The present in vivo study investigated the protective potential of prolactin against the toxic effects of methylmercury in the mammal Mus musculus. Histological and biochemical analyses, together with biomarker of genotoxicity, were used to verify the protective potential of prolactin in mice exposed to methylmercury. The reduction in kidney and liver tissue damage was not significant. However, results of biochemical and genotoxic analyses were excellent. After prolactin treatment, a significant reduction was observed in biochemical parameters and mutagenic effects of methylmercury. The study results therefore indicated that prolactin has protective effects against the toxicity of methylmercury and allowed us to suggest the continuation of research to propose prolactin in the future, as an alternative to prevent the damage caused by mercury, especially in populations that are more exposed.

Mercury; Prolactin; Histological evaluation; Biochemical parameters; Genotoxicity

	Females						Males
	CN	MeHg	PRL 25	PRL 250	MeHg/PRL 25	MeHg/PRL 250	CN	MeHg	PRL 25	PRL 250	MeHg/PRL 25	MeHg/PRL 250
Hypertrophied hepatocytes	0+	0+	+	0+	0+	0+	0+	+	+	++	0+	0+
Inflammatory infiltration	0	+	++	++	0+	0+	0+	+	+	+	0+	0+
Pyknosis	+++	+	+++	+	0+	++	+++	++	+++	+	+	+
Edema	0	0+	++	+++	+++	+	+	+++	+++	+++	+++	++
Karyolysis	0	0+	0	0	0	0	0+	0+	0+	0	0	0
Fibrosis associated with the vessels of the triad	0	0	0	0+	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vacuolization near the vessels of the triad	0	0	0	0+	0+	0	0	0	0	0	0+	0
Thickening of the vessels of the triad	0	++	++	++	0+	+	0	++	+	+	0+	+
Increase in the number of vessels surrounding the triad	0	0+	0+	0	0	0	0	0+	0+	0	0	0
Deformed triad	0	0+	0+	0	0	0	0	0+	0+	0	0	0

	Females						Males
	CN	MeHg	PRL 25	PRL 250	MeHg/PRL 25	MeHg/PRL 250	CN	MeHg	PRL 25	PRL 250	MeHg/PRL 25	MeHg/PRL 250
Hypertrophied glomeruli	++	+++	++	+++	+++	+++	0+	+++	++	++	++	++
Swollen tubules	+++	+++	0+	0+	++	+++	+++	+++	0	++	+++	+++
Peeling of the tubules	+	++	0	0	+	+	++	++	0	+	+	+++
Vacuolar degeneration	0	++	0+	0+	+++	++	0	+++	0	++	+++	++
Hyaline degeneration of the vessels	0	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++	0+	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++

Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel. / Fax: +55 16 3315-9120 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: bjournal@terra.com.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Correspondence: C. Rocha: <carlos.rocha@ifpa.edu.br>