Chronic Effects of Mercury on Organisms:

Functional shifts in the hypophyseal adrenocortical system and the thyroid gland under the infuence of mercury


NOTE: These are notes are incomplete.
Please refer to the original for scientific research.

FUNCTIONAL SHIFTS IN THE HYPOPHYSEAL ADRENOCORTICAL SYSTEM and the Thyroid Gland Under the Influence of Mercury. Summary only Thus, the functional activity change of the thyroid gland under the effect of small mercury concentrations is reversible upon the addition of free SH- groups and normalizes fairly quickly. Such functional dynamics have also been shown by N. A. Gabelova, 1953; M. N. Fateyeva, 1953; F. R. Keating, 1949, etc. It is possible to suggest that mercury reacts with SH- groups of tissue proteins, blocking thyroglobulin even in small amounts. "Hormonal insufficiency" appears, stimulates increased glandular hormone synthesis, stimulating compensatory response to the hypophysis and other mechanisms, regulating the activity of this organ. This gives a partial explanation of the non-appearance of evidence of thyrotoxicosis although this does not exclude the possibility of later development of specific symptoms. In fact these are often observed in clinics as on of the signs of micromercurialism (M. A. Kazakevich, 1945; R. N. vol'fovskaya, 1928). Thyrotoxicosis has been observed in persons who have had prolonged contact with low mercury concentrations (Ya. Z. Matusevich, L. M. Frumina, 1934). Experimental and clinical data discussed above permit us to state that low mercury concentrations produce hormonal shifts and thyroid dysfunction. This data is of special interest from the point of view of changes arising in micromercurialism. They can be used in the early diagnosis of the effects of low mercury concentrations on the organism.