Abstract
Backgrounds Methylmercury (MeHg) is regarded as a developmental neurotoxicant but the detailed mechanism remains not completely clear. Methods The Xenopus laevis embryos were exposed to methylmercury chloride and the expression of neurodevelopment and oxidative stress genes was detected by qRT-PCR or Western blotting. PC12 cells were exposed to various levels of H 2 O 2 , and then cell cycle, neurite length, neurodevelopment-related genes, protein expression of apoptosis and autophagy were detected. Results The genes of neurodevelopment and oxidative stress were disrupted by methylmercury chloride and H 2 O 2 were increased interestingly in X. laevis embryos. Then, PC12 cells were exposed to H 2 O 2 and the results showed the cell cycle, neurite length, and neurodevelopment-related genes, the proteins apoptosis and autophagy were changed. Conclusion These results supported the idea that neurodevelopment-related gene expression was regulated by oxidative stress and that apoptosis and autophagy pathways were activated by H 2 O 2 and involved in methylmercury neurotoxicity.