The effect of 2,3-dimercaptopropane sodium sulfonate on mercury retention in rats in relation to age.

The effectiveness of DMPS (sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate) in reducing inorganic mercury retention was studied in 2-, 6-, and 28-week-old albino rats. 203Hg was administered IP. The chelating agent DMPS was administered by IP injection at a dose of 250 mumol/kg body weight three times, 1 day after 203Hg administration and at 24 h intervals thereafter. The whole body retention determined 1, 2, 3, and 6 days after 203Hg administration showed that DMPS decreased the body retention of mercury in all age groups, being about twice as effective in adult compared to suckling rats. The reduced effectiveness was due to the reduced efficacy of DMPS in reducing kidney retention in young animals. In other organs the effectiveness of DMPS was not age dependent. These and previous results obtained with different chelating agents and other metals indicate that age might be an important factor in chelation therapy in general.