Therapeutic potentials of combined use of DMSA with calcium and ascorbic acid in the treatment of mild to moderately lead intoxicated mice.

The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic efficacies of combined use of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) with calcium and ascorbic acid in the treatment of mild to moderately lead-intoxicated mice. Female albino mice were exposed to lead by drinking water contaminated with 0.1% (moderate lead exposure) or 0.05% (mild lead exposure) lead acetate. After the cessation of lead exposure, mice were supplemented by gavage with saline solution, 50 mg/kg body weight (b.w) DMSA, 100 mg/kg b.w DMSA, calcium and ascorbic acid, or 50 mg/kg b.w DMSA and calcium as well as ascorbic acid, respectively. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method was used to analyze lead levels in blood, bone, liver, kidney and brain. Activities of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) were determined by colorimetric method. DMSA supplemented alone could reduce lead levels in both soft tissues and bone and reverse lead-inhibited activities of blood ALAD in mild to moderately lead-intoxicated mice. On the other hand, combined use of DMSA with calcium and ascorbic acid achieved better therapeutic efficacies in mobilizing lead in blood, liver and kidney, and reversing lead-inhibited activities of blood ALAD in moderately lead intoxicated mice than DMSA supplemented alone. Moreover, the better therapeutic efficacies were also found in mildly lead intoxicated mice in mobilizing lead in blood and bone achieved by combined use of DMSA with calcium and ascorbic acid. Combined use of DMSA with calcium and ascorbic acid seems to be the better choice in the treatment of mild to moderate lead-intoxication.