Biomaterial Database

Effect of occupational mercury exposure on plasma lysosomal hydrolases. 1983

A Aitio, and S Valkonen, and H Kivistö, and E Yrjänheikki

The activities of three plasma lysosomal hydrolases, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, were studied in 20 workers exposed to metallic mercury vapor in a chlorine alkali plant and in 10 nonexposed referents. The urinary excretion and blood levels of mercury were determined on the day of study, and the history of mercury exposure was reviewed from the records of mercury concentrations in urine and blood over periods of up to 133 months. The average levels of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase were higher in the plasma of exposed workers, but the difference was not significant. No significant positive correlation was seen between lyosomal enzyme activities and cumulative long-term exposure to mercury. It is concluded that measurement of plasma lysosomal hydrolase-activities is not of great value in the biological monitoring of workers exposed to low concentrations of metallic mercury vapor. In line with published data, the concentration of mercury showed a clear-cut diurnal variation in nonexposed persons, persons currently exposed and persons with a history of past exposure. The excretion rate of mercury remained constant throughout the day.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008247	Lysosomes	A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).	Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D008628	Mercury	A silver metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature. It has the atomic symbol Hg (from hydrargyrum, liquid silver), atomic number 80, and atomic weight 200.59. Mercury is used in many industrial applications and its salts have been employed therapeutically as purgatives, antisyphilitics, disinfectants, and astringents. It can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes which leads to MERCURY POISONING. Because of its toxicity, the clinical use of mercury and mercurials is diminishing.
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D004789	Enzyme Activation	Conversion of an inactive form of an enzyme to one possessing metabolic activity. It includes 1, activation by ions (activators); 2, activation by cofactors (coenzymes); and 3, conversion of an enzyme precursor (proenzyme or zymogen) to an active enzyme.	Activation, Enzyme,Activations, Enzyme,Enzyme Activations
D005696	Galactosidases	A family of galactoside hydrolases that hydrolyze compounds with an O-galactosyl linkage. EC 3.2.1.-.	Galactosidase
D005966	Glucuronidase		Endo-beta-D-Glucuronidase,Endoglucuronidase,Exo-beta-D-Glucuronidase,beta-Glucuronidase,Endo beta D Glucuronidase,Exo beta D Glucuronidase,beta Glucuronidase
D006596	Hexosaminidases	Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of N-acylhexosamine residues in N-acylhexosamides. Hexosaminidases also act on GLUCOSIDES; GALACTOSIDES; and several OLIGOSACCHARIDES.	Galactosaminidases,Hexosaminidase,Galactosaminidase,Glucosaminidase,Glucosaminidases
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000118	Acetylglucosaminidase	A beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-glucose residues in chitobiose and higher analogs as well as in glycoproteins. Has been used widely in structural studies on bacterial cell walls and in the study of diseases such as MUCOLIPIDOSIS and various inflammatory disorders of muscle and connective tissue.	N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase,Chitobiase,N,N-Diacetylchitobiase,N-Ac-beta-Glucosaminidase,NAGase,beta-D-Acetamido-2-Deoxyglucosidase,beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase,beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase,N Ac beta Glucosaminidase,N Acetyl beta D glucosaminidase,N,N Diacetylchitobiase,beta D Acetamido 2 Deoxyglucosidase,beta D N acetylglucosaminidase,beta N Acetylglucosaminidase