The excretion and distribution of inorganic mercury in the rat as influenced by several chelating agents

Diphenyl diselenide and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol increase the PTZ-induced chemical seizure and mortality in mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interaction between a classic GABAergic antagonist -- pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) with an organoselenium compound -- diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)(2) and with the metal chelating agent -- 2,3 dimercaptopropanol (BAL). Mice were pre-treated with 150 micromol/kg (PhSe)(2) or BAL (250, 500 or 1000 micromol/kg) before treatment with PTZ. Pre-treatment with (PhSe)(2) reduced the latency for PTZ-induced seizure at doses of 40 and 60 mg/kg and cause a decrease in the latency for PTZ-induced death at the dose of 60 mg/kg. However, treatment with PTZ at dose of 80 mg/kg was not affected by (PhSe)(2) pre-treatment. Pre-treatment with BAL reduced the latency for PTZ-induced seizure at doses of 40 and 50 mg/kg. In addition, the latency for PTZ-induced death at the dose of 40 mg/kg was decreased significantly by pre-treatment with all doses of BAL. At the dose of 50mg/kg, a significant decrease in the latency for death occurred only in mice pre-treated with 500 and 1000 micromol/kg of BAL. Our results indicate that the PTZ-induced chemical seizures and mortality was enhanced by (PhSe)(2) and BAL. These results indicated that (PhSe)(2) and BAL interact with PTZ possibly by modulating the GABAergic system.

Case report: severe mercuric sulphate poisoning treated with 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate and haemodiafiltration

INTRODUCTION

Inorganic mercury poisoning is uncommon, but when it occurs it can result in severe, life-threatening features and acute renal failure. Previous reports on the use of extracorporeal procedures such as haemodialysis and haemoperfusion have shown no significant removal of mercury. We report here the successful use of the chelating agent 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate (DMPS), together with continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), in a patient with severe inorganic mercury poisoning.

CASE REPORT

A 40-year-old man presented with haematemesis after ingestion of 1 g mercuric sulphate and rapidly deteriorated in the emergency department, requiring intubation and ventilation. His initial blood mercury was 15 580 microg/l. At 4.5 hours after ingestion he was started on DMPS. He rapidly developed acute renal failure and so he was started on CVVHDF for renal support and in an attempt to improve mercury clearance; CVVHDF was continued for 14 days.

METHODS

Regular ultradialysate and pre- and post-filtrate blood samples were taken and in addition all ultradialysate generated was collected to determine its mercury content.

RESULTS

The total amount of mercury in the ultrafiltrate was 127 mg (12.7% of the ingested dose). The sieving coefficient ranged from 0.13 at 30-hours to 0.02 at 210-hours after ingestion. He developed no neurological features and was discharged from hospital on day 50. Five months after discharge from hospital he remained asymptomatic, with normal creatinine clearance.

DISCUSSION

We describe a patient with severe inorganic mercury poisoning in whom full recovery occurred with the early use of the chelating agent DMPS and CVVHDF. There was removal of a significant amount of mercury by CVVHDF.

CONCLUSION

We feel that CVVHDF should be considered in patients with inorganic mercury poisoning, particularly those who develop acute renal failure, together with meticulous supportive care and adequate doses of chelation therapy with DMPS.

Determination of total mercury and methylmercury in human hair by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry using 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate as a complexing agent

For the determination of total mercury in hair, an amount (25.0 mg) of hair sample was digested with conc. HNO3 (400 microl) at 90 degrees C for 10 min in a 7-ml teflon microreaction vessel. After digestion, the pH of the acidic hair mixture was adjusted to 5.0-6.0 by NaOH and was then passed through a clean-up Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. To the eluate, 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) and sodium acetate buffer (pH = 6.0) were added to form a mercury-DMPS complex. This complex was preconcentrated on two Sep-Pak C18 cartridges in series, and each cartridge was eluted with methanol and adjusted to 2.00 ml. A portion (50 microl) was introduced into a graphite cuvette and then atomized according to a temperature program. The method detection limit (MDL, 3sigma) was 0.064 (microg g(-1)); the calibration graph was linear up to 7.52 microg g(-1). Good accuracies were obtained when testing two human hair certified reference materials (GBW 09101 and BCR-397). Six real samples were analyzed, and the recoveries were 95.8 - 98.2% with a relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 3) < 2.1%. For the determination of methylmercury (CH3Hg+), 25.0 mg of hair sample was extracted with 2.0 mol dm(-3) HCl (1.0 ml) by ultrasonicating for 1 h. The supernatant solution was used for CH3Hg+ analysis and the hair residue was used for the analysis of inorganic mercury (Hg2+). The MDL of CH3Hg+ was 0.068 microg g(-1); the calibration graph was linear up to 6.00 microg g(-1). Six real samples were analyzed, and the recoveries were 96.0-99.2% with RSD (n = 3) < 2.3%. The sum of the concentrations of CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ was very close to that of the total mercury measured with a relative error within 3.6%. The proposed method can be accurately applied to the measurement of CH3Hg+, Hg2+, and total mercury in hair samples.

Mechanisms of action of 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate and the transport, disposition, and toxicity of inorganic mercury in isolated perfused segments of rabbit proximal tubules

Mechanisms by which the dithiol chelating agent 2, 3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) significantly alters the renal tubular transport, accumulation, and toxicity of inorganic mercury were studied in isolated perfused pars recta (S2) segments of proximal tubules of rabbits. Addition of 200 microM DMPS to the bath provided complete protection from the toxic effects of 20 microM inorganic mercury in the lumen. The protection was linked to decreased uptake and accumulation of mercury. Additional data indicated that, when DMPS and inorganic mercury were coperfused through the lumen, very little inorganic mercury was taken up from the lumen. We also obtained data indicating that DMPS is transported by the organic anion transport system and that this transport is linked to the therapeutic effects of DMPS. Interestingly, very little inorganic mercury was taken up and no cellular pathological changes were detected when inorganic mercury and DMPS were added to the bath. We also tested the hypothesis that DMPS can extract cellular mercury while being transported from the bath into the luminal compartment. Our findings showed that, when DMPS was applied to the basolateral membranes of S2 segments after they had been exposed to mercuric conjugates of glutathione of the laminal membrane, the tubular content of mercury was greatly reduced and the rates of disappearance of mercury from the lumen changed from positive values to markedly negative values. We conclude that inorganic mercury is extracted from proximal tubular cells by a transport process involving the movement of DMPS from the bathing compartment to the luminal compartment.

Comparison of the effectiveness of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) as protective agents against mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The effectiveness of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) on HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity was studied in the rat. Seven groups of adult male rats were given a single sc toxic dose of HgCl2 (0.68 mg/kg) followed by 0.9% saline (positive control group), BAL (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg) or DMSA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) administered ip at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h thereafter. Although the renal function of HgCl2-exposed rats was slightly improved after BAL administration, Hg concentrations in the kidney were only reduced at 60 mg/kg. In addition, the protective effect of BAL was not dose-related. In contrast to BAL, DMSA was effective in increasing the urinary excretion of Hg and in reducing the renal Hg content. These results show that DMSA would be more effective than BAL in preventing or in protecting against inorganic Hg-induced nephrotoxicity.

Strain differences in tissue concentrations of mercury in inbred mice treated with mercuric chloride

Tissue concentrations of mercury were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry in different inbred mouse strains after continuous treatment with HgCl2 (3 weekly sc injections of 0.5 mg/kg bw) for up to 12 weeks. Except for the thymus, in which steadily increasing mercury concentrations were found, in steady state levels of mercury were reached in blood and liver after 4 weeks and in spleen and kidney after 8 weeks. In the closely related strains C57BL/6, B10.D2, and B10.S, which differ only or primarily at the major histocompatibility complex, mercury concentrations in blood and liver were about twofold lower and renal concentrations were about three- to fivefold lower than those detected in strains A.SW and DBA/2. Another strain difference was observed in the spleen: after 8 and 12 weeks of continuous HgCl2 treatment, mercury concentrations in the spleen of strains A.SW, C57BL/6, and B10.S were significantly higher than those in strains DBA/2 and B10.D2. The strain difference in the spleen, an organ of the immune system, correlates with the susceptibility to the HgCl2-induced systemic autoimmune syndrome in mice in that the strains showing a higher mercury accumulation in the spleen are susceptible to this form of chemically induced autoimmunity, whereas the strains with lower mercury concentrations in the spleen are resistant.

Sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (DMPS) treatment does not redistribute lead or mercury to the brain of rat

Since there has been concern about whether any of the chelating agents used therapeutically might cause an initial redistribution of heavy metals to the brain and since the sodium salt of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (Dimaval, DMPS) has been used to treat heavy metal intoxication in humans, the hypothesis that DMPS does not redistribute and increase lead or mercuric ions in the brains of rats was tested. Lead acetate at a concentration of 50 mg/l was made available in the drinking water of rats for 86 days. Other rats received intraperitoneal injections of 0.50 mg Hg/kg (as mercuric chloride) each day for 5 days a week for a total of 32 or 41 days. Animals were divided into groups and given, i.p., either 0.27 mmol DMPS/kg body weight or saline, each day for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days. Lead or mercury concentrations of the brain were determined after each group received DMPS for the different number of days. DMPS treatment did not result in any initial increase of lead or mercuric ions in the brain. The mercury content of the kidney decreased. The results of these experiments demonstrated that lead or mercuric ions were not redistributed to or increased in the brains of rats during the initial days of DMPS treatment.

Effects of sulfhydryl compounds on the accumulation, removal and cytotoxicity of inorganic mercury by primary cultures of rat renal cortical epithelial cells

The effects of sulfhydryl compounds on the accumulation, removal and cytotoxicity of inorganic mercury (Hg) were investigated in primary cultures of rat renal cortical epithelial cells. The compounds investigated were 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol, D-penicillamine, glutathione (GSH) and L-cysteine. In the accumulation experiment, the cells were co-incubated with Hg and the above compounds for 30 min. (short-term) or 18 hr (long-term). In the removal experiment, cells incubated with Hg were further incubated with the above compounds for 30 min. In both experiments, the alleviative effect of the compounds on the cytotoxicity was estimated by the uptake of neutral red or by cell growth. 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid had the highest antidotal effects except for Hg removal. 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanol exerted the least antidotal effects in the short-term, as well as in the long-term experiments, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol increased the Hg accumulation and the cytotoxicity despite its removal of most of the Hg. Although D-penicillamine, L-cysteine and GSH did not increase the Hg removal in the long-term experiment other antidotal effects were seen.

Mercury kinetics in a case of severe mercuric chloride poisoning treated with dimercapto-1-propane sulphonate (DMPS)

A case of severe mercuric chloride poisoning with clinical signs of mucosal damage of the gastrointestinal tract and anuric renal failure, is presented. The initial whole blood mercury concentration was 14,300 micrograms l-1. This concentration is supposed to be associated with fatal outcome due to multiple organ failure. Because of anuric renal failure, haemodialysis was necessary. Kidney function returned to normal within 10 days. Haemodialysis proved to be ineffective with regard to total mercury elimination. Treatment with DMPS was started because of very severe poisoning, anuric renal failure and optimistic reports on the "new" chelating agent 2,3-dimercapto-1 propanesulphonic acid (DMPS) in mercury poisoning. DMPS was administered by parenteral route initially and was continued thereafter by oral route, until whole blood and urine mercury concentrations had decreased below a level considered as toxic. Except for a temporary pruritic erythema of the skin, no side effects of DMPS treatment were observed. The clinical course was mild, despite continuing high whole blood mercury concentrations. Recovery was uneventful and complete. DMPS treatment, administered by intravenous and oral route, was shown to be an effective alternative for BAL in life-threatening mercuric chloride intoxication. The pharmacokinetic data presented in this case report suggest that non-renal mercury clearance may considerably exceed renal mercury clearance.

Decreasing 203Hg retention by intraperitoneal treatment with monoalkyl esters of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid in rats

The effect of nine monoalkyl esters of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) on 203Hg retention after a single i.p. dose was evaluated in 6-7 week-old female albino rats. The monoesters were the monomethyl (MMDMS), monoethyl (MEDMS), mono-n-propyl (Mn-PDMS), monoisopropyl (Mi-PDMS), mono-n-butyl (Mn-BDMS), monoisobutyl (Mi-BDMS), mono-n-amyl (Mn-ADMS), monoisoamyl (Mi-ADMS) and mono-n-hexyl (Mn-HDMS). Dimercaptosuccinic acid or one of the monoesters were administered at a dose of 0.25 mmol kg-1 body wt. twice, i.e. 30 min and 24 h after 203Hg administration. The whole body (WB) radioactivity was determined on the 2nd, 4th and 6th days. The radioactivity in the carcass (C) (whole body without the gastrointestinal tract), liver (L), both kidneys (K) and brain (B) was determined 6 days after 203Hg administration. All treated animals had a significantly lower body burden of mercury than the controls. The reduction of 203Hg retention in WB and other body compartments was higher in animals treated with monoesters than in rats treated with DMSA. The relative effectiveness of the monoesters was dependent on the nature of the alkyl groups, the efficiency being higher in higher analogues. Maximum activity was attained with the C5 (Mn-ADMS, Mi-ADMS) and C6 (Mn-HDMS) esters. These chelators reduced WB, C, L, K and B mercury retention by 90, 89, 76, 93 and 80%, respectively. Iso derivatives were more efficient than the normal isomers (Mi-PDMS > Mn-PDMS; Mi-BDMS > Mn-BDMS; Mi-ADMS > Mn-ADMS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Further study of effects of chelating agents on excretion of inorganic mercury in rats

The effects of three chelating agents, N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (BGD), 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) and D-penicillamine (D-PEN), on the excretion of mercury in rats exposed to mercuric chloride (HgCl2), the chemical forms of mercury compounds excreted in the bile and urine and the intestinal reabsorption of mercury compounds in the bile were studied. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 203HgCl2 (300 micrograms Hg and 74 kBq of 203Hg/kg) and 24 h later, they were injected intraperitoneally with a chelating agent (a quarter of an LD50). The injection of the chelating agents significantly enhanced the biliary and urinary excretions of mercury. The enhancing effect of BGD on the excretions of mercury was almost the same as that of BAL and much larger than that of D-PEN. The major chemical form of mercury in the bile and urine of rats injected with BGD after HgCl2 treatment was Hg-BGD compounds. The chemical form of mercury in the bile and urine of rats injected with BAL after HgCl2 treatment was mainly Hg-GSH compound. The mercury after HgCl2 and D-PEN treatment was excreted mainly via the urine in the form of Hg-D-PEN compound. The intestinal reabsorption of mercury from the bile of rats injected with BGD or D-PEN was only 0.18% or 0.38% of the dose, respectively. The intestinal reabsorption of mercury from the bile of rats injected with BAL was 27.38% of the dose. It was suggested that the Hg-GSH compound excreted in the bile after HgCl2 and BAL treatment is partly degraded to Hg-cysteine (Cys) by the intestinal membranous enzymes and that the ligand of Hg-Cys is replaced by BAL in the bile, resulting in the effective reabsorption of Hg-BAL compound from the intestine.

Toxicokinetics of mercuric chloride and methylmercuric chloride in mice

Future human exposure to inorganic mercury will probably lead to a few individuals occupationally exposed to high levels and much larger populations exposed to low or very low levels from dental fillings or from food items containing inorganic mercury; human exposure to methylmercury will be relatively low and depending on intake of marine food. Ideally, risk assessment is based on detailed knowledge of relations between external and internal dose, organ levels, and their relation to toxic symptoms. However, human data on these toxicokinetic parameters originate mainly from individuals or smaller populations accidentally exposed for shorter periods to relatively high mercury levels, but with unknown total body burden. Thus, assessment of risk associated with exposure to low levels of mercury will largely depend on data from animal experiments. Previous investigations of the toxicokinetics of mercuric compounds almost exclusively employed parenteral administration of relatively high doses of soluble mercuric salts. However, human exposure is primarily pulmonary or oral and at low doses. The present study validates an experimental model for investigating the toxicokinetics of orally administered mercuric chloride and methylmercuric chloride in mice. Major findings using this model are discussed in relation to previous knowledge. The toxicokinetics of inorganic mercury in mice depend on dose size, administration route, and sex, whereas the mouse strain used is less important. The "true absorption" of a single oral dose of HgCl2 was calculated to be about 20% at two different dose levels. Earlier studies that did not take into account the possible excretion of absorbed mercury and intestinal reabsorption during the experimental period report 7-10% intestinal uptake. The higher excretion rates observed after oral than after intraperitoneal administration of HgCl2 are most likely due to differences in disposition of systemically delivered and retained mercury. After methylmercury administration, mercury excretion followed first-order kinetics for 2 wk, independently of administration route, strain, or sex. However, during longer experimental periods, the increasing relative carcass retention (slower rate of excretion) caused the elimination to deviate from first-order kinetics. Extensive differences in the toxicokinetics of methylmercury with respect to excretion rates, organ deposition, and blood levels were observed between males and females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Mercury clearance from human plasma during in vitro dialysis: screening systems for chelating agents

Two in vitro systems were evaluated as potential screening methods for determining the most effective chelating agents for use in patients with inorganic mercury poisoning undergoing hemodialysis. The first system consisted of an in vitro clinical hemodialysis unit and the second system consisted of an in vitro equilibrium dialysis procedure. Both systems utilized pooled human plasma. Ten chelating agents were evaluated in these systems to determine their ability to enhance mercury clearance from human plasma. In the absence of chelators, plasma clearance of mercury was negligible. Of the chelating agents tested, 2,3-dimercaptopropanolol, which enhances biliary and fecal excretion of mercury poisoning, and dithiothreitol did not enhance mercury clearance at 90 min in the hemodialysis system. N-acetylcysteine appeared to be the most effective chelating agent of those tested in the hemodialysis system. N-acetylcysteine produced a 73% decrease in perfusate mercury concentration at 90 min. The results of equilibrium dialysis mirrored those of the hemodialysis in that N-acetylcysteine significantly enhanced mercury transfer across the dialysis membrane into the dialysate whereas dithiothreitol did not. If in vivo experiments confirm the present findings, then in vitro dialysis from pooled human plasma either using a standard clinical hemodialyzer or equilibrium dialysis system will be useful screening tools. Our results suggest that equilibrium dialysis may be a convenient and cost effective method to screen potential chelating agents as complementary to hemodialysis for the treatment of inorganic mercury poisoning.

Effect of four thiol-containing chelators on disposition of orally administered mercuric chloride

Acute toxicity and the disposition of inorganic mercury depends on the route of exposure. Most previous studies on effect of chelators on inorganic mercury toxicity and toxicokinetics employed parenteral administration of both metal and chelator. However, the most prominent routes for human inorganic mercury exposure are the oral or pulmonary. BAL was previously considered the drug of choice in human intoxications with most heavy metals. This recommendation has been questioned during recent years due to the advent of the less toxic hydrophilic BAL analogues DMSA and DMPS. The present study, using oral administration of HgCl2 labelled with 203Hg, demonstrates that DMPS is superior to the other chelators in preventing mortality. Moreover, both DMSA and DMPS are superior to BAL and NAPA in alleviating acute toxicity and in preventing the undesirable distribution of orally administered mercury, especially to the brain. Further, oral administration of these chelators were more efficient than parenteral administration in reducing whole-body retention and organ deposition of orally administered mercuric chloride, most likely due to the prevention of intestinal uptake of mercury.

Mobilized mercury in subjects with varying exposure to elemental mercury vapour

In a mercury mobilization test, 0.3 g of the complexing agent sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) was given orally to 10 workers with moderate occupational exposure to elemental mercury vapour, to 8 dentists with slight exposure, to 18 matched controls, and to 5 referents without amalgam fillings. In the workers, DMPS caused an increase in 24-h urinary mercury excretion by a factor of 10; in the dentists, 5.9; in the controls, 5.3; and in the amalgam-free referents, 3.8. Of the mercury excreted during 24 h, 59% appeared during the first 6 h. Close, albeit non-linear, associations were found between mobilized mercury and the premobilization mercury levels in plasma and urine, but not with the duration of occupational exposure or the rough estimate of the integrated function of blood levels vs time. The present data indicate that mercury mobilized after a single DMPS dose in close connection with exposure is mainly an index of recent exposure and is not significantly affected by slow body pools or long-term exposure.

Disposition and retention of mercuric chloride in mice after oral and parenteral administration

The present study compares effects of dose size on whole-body retention and relative organ distribution of 203HgCl2, after oral and intraperitoneal administration to female mice of two strains (inbred CBA/Bom and outbred Bom:NMRI). Using whole-body retention data of oral and intraperitoneal administration, an estimated "true absorption" of a single oral dose of inorganic mercury was calculated to be about 20% at two different dose levels. At the highest oral dose, a delay in fecal elimination of nonabsorbed mercury was observed, indicating a decreased peristaltic rate. The relative hepatic deposition was larger after oral than after intraperitoneal administration, presumably due to a first-pass effect, and a correspondingly lower relative renal deposition was seen. Increasing doses at both exposure routes resulted in increasing relative deposition in liver, stomach, intestines, and spleen but decreasing relative deposition in lungs and kidneys. Bom:NMRI mice deposited a larger fraction of the whole-body burden in the kidneys and a smaller fraction in the livers than did CBA/Bom mice. Comparison to a previous study with male mice (Nielsen and Andersen, 1989) demonstrates that male and female mice deposit similar fractions of their body burden in the liver, while male mice deposit significantly larger amounts of mercury in the kidneys and smaller amounts in the carcass than do female mice. Thus, the toxicokinetics of inorganic mercury in mice depend on dose size, administration route, and sex; the mouse strain is of less importance than the other factors investigated. The absorption of inorganic mercury was estimated to be about 20%, that is, twice as high as earlier estimates.

Influence of 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate and dimercaptosuccinic acid on the mobilization of mercury from tissues of rats pretreated with mercuric chloride, phenylmercury acetate or mercury vapors

The efficiency of the sodium salt of 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS) and meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) to mobilize mercury from tissues has been assessed in rats pretreated with different doses of HgCl2, phenylmercury acetate or exposed to different concentrations of mercury vapors. These pretreatments increase the mercury concentration in the kidney and to a lower extent in the liver. Only exposure to metallic mercury vapor leads to mercury accumulation in the brain. Both chelators mobilize mercury stored in the kidney and the amount of metal excreted in urine following a single administration of DMSA is a good indicator of the renal burden of mercury. The rate of removal is greater after DMPS administration than after DMSA but repeated administration of either agents eventually leads to the same total amount of mercury mobilized from the kidney. The loss of mercury from the liver can be slightly accelerated by repeated administration of the chelators. However, the chelators are inefficient in removing mercury from the brain.

Determination and metabolism of dithiol-chelating agents: electrolytic and chemical reduction of oxidized dithiols in urine

The presence of oxidized species of the dithiol-chelating agents, meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid (DMPS), in human urine was determined by chemical and electrolytic reduction methods. Urine from a human given either DMSA or DMPS was treated with electrolysis, dithiothreitol, or sodium tetrahydridoborate (NaBH4). The SH groups were derivatized with monobromobimane for the determination of unaltered dithiols. Total dithiol (unaltered and oxidized) was determined by reduction followed by derivatization with monobromobimane. The bimane derivatives were identified and quantified by HPLC and fluorescence. Although all three reduction methods gave similar results, electrolytic reduction of oxidized DMSA and chemical reduction with NaBH4 of oxidized DMPS are recommended based upon both day to day reproducibility and recovery of standards. After reduction a 4-fold increase in DMSA and a 20-fold increase in DMPS were found in urine by 12 h after an oral dose of DMSA or DMPS. These new methods for the determination of dithiols and their oxidized forms should lead to a better understanding of the metabolic properties of these increasingly important orally effective chelating agents.

Chelation in metal intoxication. XIX. alpha-Mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acid as antidotes to nickel and lead toxicity

In view of the reported effectiveness of alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA) as an effective antidote to inorganic mercury toxicity, some alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids were synthesized and examined for their efficacy in counteracting nickel and lead intoxication in rats. alpha-mercapto-beta-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylic acid (MDA) was most effective and other compounds were less but about equally effective in enhancing urinary excretion and in reducing tissue concentration of Ni. MDA was the only compound to remove Ni from the brain. MFA was also more effective than other structurally related compounds in enhancing urinary and faecal excretion and in lowering body burden of Pb. All the compounds significantly reduced the inhibition of the activity of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) and increase in the urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) caused by Pb. The results do not show any relationship between the nature of the substitution at the beta-position of alpha-mercapto acrylic acids and their ability to reduce the concentration and the toxic effects of the two metals. However, these thiol chelating agents appear promising as antidotes to Ni and Pb poisoning.

Fluorometric determination of 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid and other dithiols by precolumn derivatization with bromobimane and column liquid chromatography

The increasing therapeutic use of dithiol metal binding agents, such as 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid (DMPS), has stimulated the need for a sensitive and selective method for their determination in biological fluids. A method has now been developed in which DMPS was converted to a highly fluorescent and stable derivative by reaction with bromobimane in aqueous solution at pH 8.3. The reaction was complete within 5 min. The derivative was separated by ion-pair reversed-phase column liquid chromatography. The mass spectrum of the derivative showed that two bromobimane molecules reacted with one DMPS molecule. This method is also applicable to the determination of other dithiols. The detection limit for DMPS in urine is 10 pmol per 20-microliters injection and the precision is 7.4% at the 100-pmol level. The fluorescence response was linear from 1 to 400 micron. This method was used to determine DMPS in the urine of rabbits treated with this metal binding agent. In addition, total DMPS was determined by adding sodium tetrahydridoborate to the same urine to reduce biotransformed and oxidized DMPS.

Effects of heavy metal cations, sulfhydryl reagents and other chemical agents on striatal D2 dopamine receptors

To investigate aspects of the biochemical nature of the membrane-bound D2 dopamine receptor, rat striatal homogenates were pretreated with heavy metal cations and a variety of other chemical agents, and their effects on D2 receptor density were subsequently determined using a standard [3H]spiperone binding assay. Preincubation of striatal membranes in the presence of 3 mM Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, EDTA, or ascorbate enhanced subsequently measured stereospecific binding of [3H]spiperone compared to control (e.g. control: Bmax = 140 fmoles/mg protein, KD = 0.21 nM; Mn2+-treated: Bmax = 253 fmoles/mg protein, KD = 0.20 nM). Another group of metal cations, that is Zn2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+ and CH3Hg+, all of which have significant -SH reactivity, as well as the -SH alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), caused a decrease in specific binding sites. Pretreatment with 3 mM Cd2+ or Cu2+ resulted in a 40-60% reduction in the subsequently measured stereospecific binding of [3H]spiperone, whereas 1 mM Hg2+ or 3 mM NEM completely abolished specific [3H]spiperone binding. The effect of Hg2+ could not be reversed by washing the membranes, nor by further incubation of the membranes in the presence of excess EDTA or 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS). Further incubation in the presence of 3 mM dithioerythritol (DTE) resulted in the regeneration of about 40% of lost sites. Agents which enhanced receptor density, such as Mn2+ or EDTA, could not antagonize the effect of Hg2+, nor could the mercury-chelating agent DMPS, when added to crude homogenates prior to Hg2+. Ascorbate protected 25-35% of specific binding sites by virtue of its ability to reduce Hg2+ to insoluble Hg+. Only 3 mM DTE afforded complete protection against 1 mM Hg2+. Prior formation of the spiperone/receptor complex also demonstrated considerable ability to protect receptors from destruction by Hg2+. Preincubation of striatal membranes in the presence of 0.5 mM spiperone protected about 80% of sites from the subsequent addition of 1 mM Hg2+. A major conclusion of these studies is that one or more free -SH groups on or adjacent to the active site may be a requirement for specific antagonist binding to the membrane-bound D2 receptor. Occlusion of these -SH groups by sulfhydryl reagents results in partial to complete abolition of subsequently measured specific 3H-antagonist binding. Only agents which can regenerate free -SH groups, such as DTE, are able to induce any recovery in specific binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Prediction of kidney mercury content by isotope techniques

A 61-year-old female patient accidentally aspirated liquid mercury during a medically ordered diagnostic procedure. To develop animal-based guidelines, liquid mercury was introduced into the lungs of four dogs. Based on the study of these animals, a method of predicting the kidney inorganic mercury burden was developed using radioactive isotope dilution techniques. It was further demonstrated in dogs that oral administration of dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS) increased mercury excretion and reduced the kidney burden. A rat experiment was performed permitting a statistical evaluation of the assumptions basic to the use of the method. The method was applied to the patient with the result that the kidney inorganic mercury burden was predicted to be 28.1 mg, 8 months after the accident. Treatment with DMPS increased urinary excretion and the post-treatment kidney burden was estimated at 19.6 mg Hg. Inasmuch as the radioactive dose to the subject may be kept at a negligible level and because sensitive methods exist for measurement of radioactive and stable mercury concentrations, the technique may be applicable in special cases to the estimation of kidney inorganic mercury burdens incurred by industrial exposure.

Chelation of lead by dimercaptopropane sulfonate and a possible diagnostic use

The mobilization of lead (Pb) from Pb-exposed rats was examined following administration of dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS). A dose-response study showed that the highest dose of DMPS (200 mumol/kg, ip) removed Pb from kidneys, liver, and bone, while the lower doses (25 and 50 mumol/kg) chelated Pb only from the kidneys. In experiments where DMPS was repeatedly injected to Pb-exposed rats, the maximum urinary excretion of Pb was observed within 24 hr after the first injection, with little effect in subsequent injections. Discontinuation of DMPS after the first injection (at a dose of 50 mumol DMPS/kg) caused renal Pb levels to increase until further injection of DMPS, several days later, which again mobilized Pb only from the kidneys. A single oral administration of 150 mumol DMPS/kg (a dose adjusted for specific chelation from the kidney) to rats, previously exposed to different doses of Pb resulted in a significant decrease of renal Pb in groups injected with more than 0.5 mg Pb/kg. A linear relationship was observed between renal Pb burden and urinary Pb excretion following chelation (r = 0.94, p less than 0.01). Thus, the specific removal of Pb from the kidney by DMPS treatment suggests a potential use of DMPS, a relatively nontoxic drug, for the estimation of renal Pb burden and also for treatment of Pb poisoning. Unlike other chelating agents, DMPS can be administered orally.

Thiol antidote to inorganic mercury toxicity with an uncharacteristic mechanism

alpha-Mercapto-beta-(2-furyl)acrylic acid (MFA) significantly reduced the lethality of mercuric chloride to rats (2.2 mg Hg/kg, ip) when administered (25 mg/kg, po) at 1, 24, 48, and 72 hr. Daily administration of MFA (25 mg/kg, po) significantly reduced the lethality of daily injection of increasing amounts of mercuric chloride (1 mg Hg/kg X 7 days, 2 mg Hg/kg X 7 days, 4 mg Hg/kg X 14 days, ip). Mercury concentration in kidneys of MFA-treated rats was significantly higher than in vehicle-treated controls, whereas concentration in liver was (nonsignificantly) lower. Enhanced mercury deposition in kidney as a manifestation of antidotal effect is not characteristic of thiol chelators used in practice for mercury poisoning.

A proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of the interaction of mercury with intact human erythrocytes

The binding of mercuric ion (Hg(II)) by small molecules in the intracellular region of intact human erythrocytes has been studied by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. HgCl2 added to intact erythrocytes in saline-glucose suspension is found to cross the membrane and reach an equilibrium distribution among the molecules of the erythrocyte within 4 min. In the intracellular region Hg(II) reacts with GSH and hemoglobin to form the ternary mixed-ligand complex GSH-Hg(II)-hemoglobin. The analogous complex with ergothioneine is formed after all the GSH is complexed. 1H-NMR spectra show that the GSH-Hg(II)-hemoglobin complex also forms in simpler solutions containing HgCl2, GSH and hemoglobin, whereas the complex Hg(GSH)2 predominates in solutions of GSH and HgCl2. The lifetime of the GSH in the GSH-Hg(II)-hemoglobin complex is shown to be less than 30 s, which provides direct evidence for the first time that Hg(II) complexes in biological systems are quite labile, even though their thermodynamic stability is large. The effectiveness of eight sulfhydryl-containing ligands, some of which have been used as antidotes for Hg(II) poisoning, for releasing GSH from its Hg(II) complex in hemolyzed erythrocytes was also studied. Dithiol ligands were found to be more effective than monothiols, with dithioerythritol the most effective of the dithiols.

Treatment of mercuric chloride poisoning with dimercaptosuccinic acid and diuretics: preliminary studies

The distribution and excretion of mercury were studied in mice given a single injection of HgCl2 with or without chelation treatment. DMS (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) given intravenously (0.5 mmol SH/kg) to mice 24 h after the mercury injection reduced the kidney Hg level significantly, while NAPA (N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine) and BAL (2,3-dimercaptopropanol) did not. The effectivity of DMS to remove Hg from kidneys was comparable to that of BAL-sulph (2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate), irrespective of whether these chelating agents were given orally or intravenously. Immediate chelation treatment with DMS or mercaptodextran reduced the renal Hg level to about 50% of control levels, as measured 3 d after the treatment. Combination of DMS with immediate intraperitoneal treatment with spironolactone was even more effective in reducing the renal levels, and acted both by increasing the fecal and urinary excretion. The DMS treatment, as well as DMS + spironolactone in combination, could protect against kidney damage following injection of 30 mumol HgCl2/kg. Such treatment was essentially nontoxic.

Chelation in metal intoxication. IX. Influence of amino and thiol chelators on excretion of manganese in poisoned rabbits

The effect of two polyamino-polycarboxylic acids, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA) and diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) and two thiol-chelating agents, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMS) on the excretion of manganese (Mn) in rabbits given Mn i.p. was studied in order to investigate the affinity of this metal to N, O and S-containing compounds. HEDTA and DTPA were effective, and DDC and DMS were ineffective, in enhancing urinary and faecal excretions of Mn, indicating a greater binding capacity of Mn with chelators having N and O, than with those having S as electron donating centres.

Biliary excretion of cadmium in rat. III. Effects of chelating agents and change in intracellular thiol content on biliary transport and tissue distribution of cadmium

The effects of changes in sulfur-containing intracellular ligands on biliary excretion of cadmium were studied in rats. Injection of zinc or copper salts 24 h before intravenous injection of 109CdCl2 (1 mg/kg Cd) decreased biliary excretion of Cd. Pretreatment with cysteine (25 mg/kg) had a similar effect. Depletion of intracellular thiol by injection of diethylmaleate had little effect. The effect of chelating agents on the pharmacokinetics of Cd depended on time of administration of the agents after exposure to Cd. When chelating agents were administered 1/2 h after Cd injection (before the synthesis of metallothionein), the thiol-containing agents (2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL), DL-penicillamine, N-acetylpenicillamine, and dithioerythritol) increased the biliary excretion of Cd, while the carboxyl-containing ones (EDTA and nitrilotriacetate) increased the urinary excretion of Cd. BAL was the most effective chelating agent, but there was also an increase in the renal concentration of Cd. However, when these chelating agents were administered 24 h after Cd injection (after the synthesis of metallothionein), only BAL increased the biliary excretion of Cd. Renal and hepatic Cd concentrations decreased concurrently after BAL treatment.

The effect of immediate and delayed treatment with 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate on the distribution and toxicity of inorganic mercury in mice and in foetal and adult rats

The distribution and excretion of mercury were studied in mice and rats given a single injection of HgCl2 combined with chelation treatment. BAL-sulph (2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate) given intravenously (500 mumol SH/kg) to mice 24 hrs after the mercury injection (2.0 mumol Hg/kg) reduced the kidney Hg-level significantly, while NAPA (N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine) and BAL (2,3-dimercaptopropanol) did not. Severe kidney damage with oliguria was observed in pregnant as well as in non-pregnant rats after injection of 5 mumol/kg of HgCl2. The gross pathological changes could be avoided with immediate treatment with BAL-sulph (500 mumol SH/kg), and such treatment protect against the oliguric reaction. Treatment delayed for 24 hrs reduced the renal Hg-levels significantly, but was ineffective in preventing the kidney damage. This indicates that irreversible changes might have occurred in kidneys cells at this time. The Hg-levels in the brain were either unchanged or lowered in animals given BAL-sulph treatment. BAL-sulph is supposed to act by chelation Hg++, particularly in the extracellular space. The complexes formed appears to be rapidly excreted by healthy kidneys. Mercury poisoning with severe renal damage is, however, associated with a block in urinary Hg-excretion. The poisoned animals responded on the BAL-sulph treatment with a substantial raise of faecal mercury excretion.

Note on the metabolism of the mercury chelating agent sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate

Chromatographic analysis of the radioactive urine obtained after injection into rats of [1,3-(14)C] dimercaptopropane sodium sulfonate (DMPS, Dimaval) showed that part of the administered chelating agent is excreted unchanged. This was confirmed by the results of studies of sulfur excretion in the different fractions of the urine as well as by titration of the excreted thiol groups. The results show that, at least in rats, DMPS is not involved in important metabolic reactions.

The excretion of trace elements in rat urine after treatment with 2,3-dimercaptopropane sodium sulfonate

Administration of various doses of the chelating agent 2,3-dimercaptopropane sodium sulfonate (Dimaval, DMPS) leads to a greatly enhanced excretion of Zn and Cu. The excretion of Co, Mn, Ni and Fe remains unchanged. The relevance of these findings to the toxicity of DMPS is discussed.

Distribution and excretion of the mercury chelating agent sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate in the rat

The distribution and excretion of sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1,3 14C-propane-1-sulfonate as dependent on time has been studied in the rat. The highest concentration is found in the kidneys, the lowest in the brain. The excretion is very rapid (T1/2 = 19 min) and follows a monoexponential curve during the first hour after administration. This holds for plasma and most of the organs too. The apparent distribution volume of the radioactivity is equivalent to the volume of the extracellular water. After oral administration, 30-40% is absorbed from the gut. The results lead to the conclusion that a fraction of the drug is weakly bound to plasma- and membrane-proteins. They are discussed with respect to the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

The effect of mercuric chloride on the excretion of two urinary enzymes in the rat

The effect of intravenous injections of HgCl2 on the renal excretion of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) was investigated in rats. On the first day after Hg enzyme excretion showed a linear rise with the Hg dose from a threshold value of 0.44 mg Hg/kg. On the second day a statistically significant effect was seen already after 0.25 mg HgKG. After doses of 0.75 mg/kg or more a decrease of enzyme activity below control values occurred which persisted for more than 4 days. Treatment with 2,3-dimercaptopropansulfonate (DMPS) brought about a normalization of AP excretion. An effect on LAP excretion was observed only with early treatment. The same holds for the effect of DMPS on Hg-induced lethality. The usefulness of a measurement of LAP excretion for estimating the exposure to inorganic mercury is discussed.