Degree of peroxidative status in neuronal tissues by different routes of inorganic mercury administration.

Mercuric chloride was administered by three routes--subcutaneous, intramuscular and intraperitoneal to adult female Wistar rats. The peroxidative status of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and the sciatic nerves were studied. Enhanced levels of lipid peroxides indicate progressing cellular injury. All the experimental groups show high levels of reduced glutathione and increased activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Neurotoxic status was more pronounced in intramuscularly administered mercuric chloride, followed subsequently by intraperiotoneal and subcutaneous routes of administration.