Status of rats myocardium under subchronic mercury exposure and its pharmacological correction

Abstract

The article is devoted to the characteristics of the myocardium restructuring under the influence of 0.01 LD50 mercury (II) chloride, in rats, under subchronic exposure, and the correction of the detected changes. In the work, the structural and metabolic reorganization of myocardium was studied by way of general histological, histochemical and electron microscopic techniques. Herein, administration of Unithiolum reduces the severity of reactions to toxic effects of mercury salts: decreases the intensity of inflammation in the myocardium, improves microcirculation, connective tissue and mitochondrial membranes status and reduces cardiomyocytes apoptosis. Quercetinum has a normalizing effect on the myocardium structure, reduces energy imbalance in the myocardium, and stabilizes mitochondrial membranes. Both Unithiolum and Quercetinum promote intracellular ultrastructures recovery in cardiac myocytes and in endothelial cells, and enhance the regeneration of myofibrils.

Keywords

• myocardium
• morphometry
• salts of heavy metals
• mercury
• mercury (II) chloride
• micromercurialism
• ultramicroscopy
• histochemistry
• Unithiolum
• Quercetinum