Evaluation Nitrotyrosine and Nitric Oxide Levels in the Blood of Acute Mercury Intoxication

Abstract Background: Several mechanisms shown in present data for identify the mercuric chloride’s biologocal toxicity, and oxidative stress is one of those mechanisms. Some studies showed mercury have some effects on human body. Such as; bind to sulfhidril groups which on proteins, expose the reactive oxygen molecules and lead to formation of free oxygen radicals. Superoxide radical can lead to peroxidation of lipid membrans, changes in activities of proteins and antioxidant enzymes and gene transcription. The nitrotirozyne formed by conjoint of peroxinitrit and tirozyne residues of proteins and it can be used as a marker for evaluate potential cytotoxic effects of NO (Nitric Oxide). Although animal experiments carried out to date, there was no human series about mercury poisoning and effects of this toxicity on nitrotirozyne and NO in the literature as we evaluated in our study. With this purpose, we planned the identify nitrotirozyne and NO levels in serums of children who exposured to mercury.Methods: 65 children who exposure mercury in school’s laboratory from Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş were included in the study. Those children had> 10 μg/l blood-mercury levels and >15 μg/l urine- mercury levels. 23 children who refer out pediatric clinic for another reasons enrolled in the study as control group. Results: NO and nitrotirozyne levels found higher in mercury exposed children compared the control group. Conclusıon: Markers of oxidative stress such as NO and nitrotirozyne increase at the acute mercury intoxication.