Effect of methylmercuric chloride on gangliosides of mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture.

The effect of methylmercuric chloride (CH3HgCl) on the levels of gangliosides in mouse neuroblastoma cells (NBP2) in culture was studied. The treatment of NB cells with low concentrations (0.1 microM and 0.2 microM) of CH3HgCl, which did not affect the growth rate or morphology, caused an increase in the level of the GM3 ganglioside without changing the level of other gangliosides. The treatment of NB cells with higher concentrations (0.5 microM and 1 microM) of CH3HgCl, which inhibited the growth of NB cells, caused a decrease in the level of GM3 and an increase in the level of GM2. These results show that alterations in the levels of specific gangliosides can be observed in cells which do not exhibit any detectable change in growth rate or morphology. This change may be associated with subtle changes in brain functions, including behavioral and psychological changes, after exposure to low concentrations of organic mercury.