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Methylmercury and Neural Stem Cells

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Methylmercury and Neurotoxicity

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Neurotoxicity ((Current Topics Neurotoxicity,volume 2))

Abstract

The developing nervous system has a unique susceptibility to methylmercury (MeHg), as shown by the wide range of adverse morphological and functional outcomes reported by human and experimental animal studies. Despite regulations that have substantially decreased environmental mercury contamination, MeHg remains a global pollutant, and of special concern is the possibility that developmental exposure to low levels of MeHg may result in neurodevelopmental alterations with long-lasting consequences.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) play a key role during prenatal development of the nervous system as well as throughout adulthood when the capability for self-renewal appears to be important for learning, memory and response to injuries. In recent years, we have implemented the use of NSCs as in vitro experimental models to detect and characterise the effects of potentially neurotoxic agents. Here we review our recent studies on the alterations induced by MeHg on rodent and human NSC survival, proliferation and differentiation.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Earlier studies of MeHg exposure of undifferentiated cells (rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, mouse neuroblastoma cells) in vitro found apoptosis to be induced at higher concentrations (Toimela and Tähti 2004; Wilke et al. 2003; Miura et al. 1999).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    Karin Edoff PhD & Sandra Ceccatelli MD, PhD

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  1. Karin Edoff PhD
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  2. Sandra Ceccatelli MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Sandra Ceccatelli MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden

    Sandra Ceccatelli

  2. , Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Garland Avenue 2215-B, Nashville, 37232, Tennessee, USA

    Michael Aschner

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Edoff, K., Ceccatelli, S. (2012). Methylmercury and Neural Stem Cells. In: Ceccatelli, S., Aschner, M. (eds) Methylmercury and Neurotoxicity. Current Topics in Neurotoxicity, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2383-6_16

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