Chelation in metal intoxication XXX: α-mercapto-β-aryl acrylic acids as antidotes to cadmium toxicity

α-Mercapto-β-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), α-mercapto-β-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA), β-1,2-phenylene di-α-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,2-PDMA) and β-l,4-phenylene di-α-mercapto acrylic acid (1,4-PDMA) were compared to sodium N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NBG-DTC) an effective cadmium chelator, for their ability to mobilize Cd and influence the Cd induced tissue metallothionein (MT) in rats administered 109CdCl2, 72 hr earlier. MFA was almost as effective as NBG-DTC but more effective than MHA in enhancing urinary and faecal excretion of Cd, reducing tissue and blood levels of Cd and in lowering Cd induced increase in hepatic and renal MT contents. 1,2-PDMA and l,4-PDMA were effective only in reducing the hepatic burden of Cd. The results do not indicate any direct relationship between the efficacy of α-mercapto-β-aryl acrylic acids to decorporate body Cd and their lipophilic-hydrophilic character or number-arrangement of their sulfhydryl groups. (author)