Mercury chloride (HgCl2) is a compound found in the environment that presents low risk due to low liposolubility. Considering the importance of blood as access rout to the systemic distribution of this toxicant to the organism as well as functions performed by it, this study aimed to investigate the effects of HgCl2 on the peripheral blood of rats, evaluating the oxidative biochemistry, blood count, and morphology of cell populations. For this, 20 adult Wistar male rats were divided into control (n = 10) and exposed (n = 10) groups and received distilled water or HgCl2 at a dose of 0.375 mg/kg for 45 days, respectively, through intragastric gavage. Then, the animals were euthanized and the blood was collected for total mercury (Hg) levels determination, complete blood and reticulocyte count, oxidative biochemistry by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and nitric oxide (NO), in blood cells and plasma. Long-term exposure increased total Hg in plasma and blood cells. In blood cells, only TEAC has decreased; in plasma, the HgCl2 increased TBARS and NO levels, followed by a decrease in TEAC and GSH levels. There were no quantitative changes in reticulocytes, erythrocytes, and hemoglobin; however, the number of leukocytes have increased and platelets have decreased. Our results suggest that even in the face of low toxicity when compared with other mercury species, HgCl2 at low doses is able to modulate the systemic redox balance and affect some blood cell populations.
Keywords: Inorganic mercury; Oxidative stress; Peripheral blood; Toxicology.