Chronic mercury exposure induces oxidative stress in female rats by endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and cyclooxygenase-2 activation, without affecting oestrogen receptor function.
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol
; 129(6): 470-485, 2021 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34491608
Mercury has been shown to be a significant health risk factor and is positively associated with cardiovascular diseases. Evidence reveals that men are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than women during reproductive age. However, the effects of mercury in females remain poorly investigated, despite the finding that female hormones demonstrate a cardioprotective role. In the present study, we evaluated whether chronic mercury chloride exposure could alter blood pressure and vascular function of the female rat aorta. Ten-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control (vehicle) and mercury treated (first dose of 4.6 µg/kg, subsequent daily doses of 0.07 µg/kg), im. Mercury treatment did not modify systolic blood pressure (SBP) but increased vascular reactivity due to the reduction of nitric oxide bioavailability associated with the increase in reactive oxygen species from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling. Furthermore, increased participation of the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway occurred through an imbalance in thromboxane 2 and prostacyclin 2. However, the oestrogen signalling pathway was not altered in either group. These results demonstrated that chronic exposure to mercury in females induced endothelial dysfunction and, consequently, increased aortic vascular reactivity, causing vascular damage to the female rat aorta and representing a risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estresse Oxidativo
/
Ciclo-Oxigenase 2
/
Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo III
/
Cloreto de Mercúrio
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol
Assunto da revista:
FARMACOLOGIA
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
País de publicação:
Reino Unido