Table 1.

Effects of MeHg or MeHg–Cys complex exposure on respiratory rates of rat liver slices.

	Rate 1	Rate 2	Rate 3
	Respiration of slices (nmol O2/mL/min)	Respiration with succ. (nmol O2/mL/min)	Respiration with MeHg or MeHg–Cys (nmol O2/mL/min)
Control	2.27±0.22	6.59±0.37	5.32±0.47
MeHg	2.26±0.47	6.09±0.32	3.49±0.52a,b
MeHg–Cys	2.10±0.38	5.97±0.18	2.34±0.05a,b,c
With methionine
Control	2.42±0.27	6.17±0.98	5.57±0.75
MeHg	2.38±0.10	6.55±0.53	5.45±0.35d
MeHg–Cys	2.37±0.18	6.10±0.34	3.43±0.26a,b,d

Slices were pre-treated for 15 min with Met (250 μM) and after exposed for 30 min to MeHg (25 μM) or MeHg–Cys complex (25 μM each).

^aIndicates p<0.05, rate 3 compared to 2.

^bIndicates p<0.05 from control.

^cIndicates p<0.05 from MeHg.

^dIndicates p<0.05 from MeHg–Cys complex, n=5 mean±S.E).