Isoproterenol potentiation of methyl mercury effects in vivo on cardiac ATPases and super(3)H-dopamine uptake

In spite of its clinical use, possible drug-chemical interactions leading to adverse health effects are obvious when individuals on a regular isoproterenol treatment are exposed to an environmental contaminant such as methyl mercury. Consumption of fish and fish products is by far the most significant route of exposure to environmental mercury. In spite of such a possibility, little is known about isoproterenol-methyl mercury interaction. The present study forms the first of this kind to report such interactions and their effects on cardiac membrane bound enzymes such as Na super(+)-K super(+) and Ca super(2+)-ATPases.