Abstract
The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of methylmercury in experimental animals have been established by several investigators. The protective activity of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) and sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS, a chelator used in the treatment of inorganic and organic mercury) on methylmercury chloride (MMC)-induced maternal and developmental toxicity in mice has been evaluated in the present study. BAL and DMPS were administered subcutaneously or by gavage to pregnant mice immediately after a single oral administration of 30 mg MMC/kg given on day 10 of gestation and at 24, 48, and 72 h thereafter. Amelioration by BAL and DMPS of MMC embryo/fetotoxicity was assessed at 15, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day and at 90, 180, and 350 mg/kg/day, respectively. Treatment with BAL did not ameliorate the maternal toxicity or the developmental toxicity of MMC observed in the mouse. In contrast, DMPS at 90, 180, and 360 mg/kg/day significantly reduced the maternal lethality of MMC, whereas treatment with 180 and 360 mg DMPS/kg/day showed significant protective activity against MMC-induced embryotoxicity and teratogenicity. Based on the present findings, DMPS might be a useful chelator against the maternal and developmental toxicity induced by methylmercury.
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Gomez, M., Sanchez, D.J., Colomina, M.T. et al. Evaluation of the protective activity of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol and sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate on methylmercury-induced developmental toxicity in mice. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26, 64–68 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212795
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212795