METHYL MERCURY ENHANCES TRITIUM LABELED DIAZEPAM BINDING IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE RAT BRAIN

After acute oral administration of methyl mercury (MeHg) for 3 days, a 27-60% increase in total number of binding sites for [3H]diazepam was seen in the retina and different areas of the rat brain, with no change, except in the retina, in the apparent Kd for its ligand. MeHg failed to change [3H]spiroperidol and [3H]GABA binding in the same areas. MeHg decreased cGMP content in the cerebellar cortex. The various possible mechanisms involved in the action of MeHg on benzodiazepine binding were discussed.