[Progress in developmental toxicity of methylmercury].

Mercury is a common pollutant in the environment and it can be turned into methylmercury (MeHg) under the metabolism of microbe. MeHg is a confirmed teratogen in human. It can impair the germ cells and influence the growth and development of the offspring. MeHg can easily pass through the placental barrier, accumulate in the fetus and change the behavior and perceptibility of the second generation related to the function of central nervous system. Recently, the investigations on the mechanism about developmental toxicity of MeHg have progressed much, so we make a review in this field as follows.