Neurobehavioral changes in metallothionein-null mice postnatal exposed to low levels mercury vapor.

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Metallothionein MT-null and wild-type mice were repeatedly exposed to Hg^0 at 0.057 mg/m^3, which were similar to the current threshold value (TLV), until the 20th of postpartum. Hg^0-exposed mice of both strains did not show behavioral changes such as total locomotor activity, learning ability and spatial learning ability. However, Hg^0 exposure resulted in significant alterations in gene expression in the brain of both strains using DNA microarray analysis. A number of altered genes in MT-null mice were more than those in wild-type mice. When the exposure levels elevated to 0.198mg/m^3, MT-null mice showed a significant decrease in total locomotor activity in female, though learning ability and spatial learning ability were not affected. A number of altered genes were further increased by elevation of Hg^0 exposure levels. DNA microarray analysis may provide useful information to elucidate development of behavioral toxicity following a low-level exposure to Hg^0.