The Effect of Several Hormones and Sodium Thiomalate on Retention of Mercury by Two Strains of Chicks

Abstract TWO strains of White Leghorn chickens selected for resistence (R) or susceptibility (S) to avian leukosis have been described by Bearse et al. (1963). Large differences in retention of mercury in livers and kidneys between the R and S strains of chickens after intramuscular injection of organic or inorganic mercury compounds were reported by Miller et al. (1959a, b, 1967). The effect of injections of several hormones on the mortality of rats from mercuric chloride (MC) injections was studied by Selye and Bois (1958) and Kadas and Zsambeky (1957). Selye and Bois injected repeated doses of 20 mg. hydrocortisone acetate (HC) per kg. body weight per day before and after MC injections. The HC resulted in weight loss and increased mortality in the rats. Kadas and Zsambeky dosed rats with ACTH plus 0.5 mg. cortisone per kg. body weight for two or three days prior or one to three days…