Methylmercury impairs canonical dopamine metabolism in rat undifferentiated pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells by indirect inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase.

ABSTRACT: The environmental neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) disrupts dopamine (DA) neurochemical homeostasis by stimulating DA synthesis and release. Evidence also suggests that DA metabolism is independently impaired. The present investigation was designed to characterize the DA metabolomic profile induced by MeHg, and examine potential mechanisms by which MeHg inhibits the DA metabolic enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in rat undifferentiated PC12 cells. MeHg decreases the intracellular concentration of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). This is associated with a concomitant increase in intracellular concentrations of the intermediate metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylaldehyde (DOPAL) and the reduced metabolic product 3,4-dihydroxyethanol. This metabolomic profile is consistent with inhibit

SUBMITTER: Tiernan CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4372664 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature