Aim: Mercury is a well-known environmental pollutant that, when exposed over an extended period of time, harms neurological tissue. In this study, we examined the stereological and histological features of female rats' hippocampi after exposure to metallic mercury vapor.Methods: The study used 200 g 10-12 years-old male Wistar albino rats, and the mercury group was subjected to 1 mg/m3/day of mercury vapor for 45 days. There was no application used for the control group. Hippocampal samples were taken from each animal at the ending of the experiment and processed for stereological analysis.Results: Mercury vapor infusion significantly decreased pyramidal cells in the experimental group. The neurons with darker stained and cell bodies were not visible. The levels of oxidative stress in brain tissue were dramatically altered after exposure.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that mercury may induce oxidative damage within the hippocampus, possibly leading to neuronal loss.
Alkan et al. (2026) studied this question.