Uptake of methylmercury and inorganic mercury by mouse glioma and mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Methylmercury was taken up preferentially by mouse glioma and mouse neuroblastoma cells relative to inorganic mercury. Methylmercury uptake was depressed by lowering the cellular ATP level or the incubation temperature, while the uptake of inorganic mercury was not affected by these treatments. When the cells were treated with reagents such as cytochalasin B, colchicine and vinblastine which are known to affect membrane permeability, changes in permeability to methylmercury caused by these reagents were markedly different from those to inorganic mercury. Inorganic mercury above 2 x 10(-5)M caused the release of 2-deoxyglucose trapped in the cells and the amount of inorganic mercury taken up by the cells increased markedly at higher concentrations. Inorganic mercury thus appeared to move into the cells after disrupting the membrane barrier, while methylmercury can penetrate the cells without any noticeable damage to the barrier.