Abnormal neuronal migration, deranged cerebral cortical organization, and diffuse white matter astrocytosis of human fetal brain: a major effect of methylmercury poisoning in utero.

摘要: Detailed clinical and neuropathological studies have been made in two fullterm newborn human infants who were exposed to methylmercury utero as a result of maternal ingestion methylmercury-contaminated bread early phases pregnancy. High levels mercury detected various regions the brain at autopsy. Study brains revealed disturbance development both cases, consisting essentially an incomplete or abnormal migration neurons cerebellar cerebral cortices, deranged cortical organization cerebrum. There numerous heterotopic neurons, isolated groups, white matter cerebrum cerebellum laminar pattern was disturbed many shown by irregular groupings alignment neurons. Prominent diffuse gemistocytic astrocytosis accompanied accumulation grains their cytoplasm. These findings indicate high degree vulnerability fetal intoxication methylmercury. A major effect appears be related faulty not destructive focal neuronal damage has observed adults children postnatally.