Difference in effect of sodium selenite on mercury distributions after duodenal administration of mercuric chloride and mercuric oxide.

To obtain evidence for difference in the absorptive forms of HgCl2 and HgO from duodenum, the Hg distributions after the duodenal administration of HgCl2 and HgO and the effect of Na2SeO3 on their Hg distributions were compared. The Hg concentrations in erythrocytes and liver 2 hr after the administration of HgCl2 were significantly lower and higher than those of HgO, respectively, but their Hg distributions at 3.5 or 5 hr became identical. The administration of Na2SeO3 (intravenously) 2 hr after the administration of HgCl2 and HgO resulted in significant differences in their Hg concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes and kidney at 3.5 or 5 hr. These results suggest that the absorptive form of HgCl2 from the duodenum differs from that of HgO and this difference is a cause for the marked difference in effect of Na2SeO3 on the Hg distributions of HgCl2 and HgO.