CADMIUM MOBILIZATION BY MONOARALKYL AND MONOALKYL ESTERS OF MESO-2,3-DIMERCAPTOSUCCINIC ACID AND BY A DITHIOCARBAMATE

Syntheses and relative cadmium mobilizing properties are described for three new monoaralkyl esters (HOOCCH(SH)CH(SH)COOR, where R = phenyle thyl ((CH2)(2)C6H5), MPhEDMS; R = 3-phenylpropyl ((CH2)(3)C6H5), MPhPD MS; and R = 2-phenoxyethyl ((CH2)(2)OC6H5), MPhOEDMS) of meso-2,3-dime rcaptusuccinic acid. These were prepared by the reaction of the corres ponding alcohol with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in aqueou s HCl. When administered intraperitoneally to cadmium-loaded mice at 0 .50 mmol/kg/day for four consecutive days, all induced significant red uctions in the whole body cadmium levels. MPhEDMS, 60%; MPhPDMS, 66%; and MPhOEDMS, 58% in comparison with control levels. At the same dosag e monoisoamyl meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinate (Mi-ADMS) and a dithiocarba mate, sodium eta-D-galactopyranosyl)-D-glucamine-N-carbothioate (BLDTC ) induced reductions of 65% and 57%, respectively. Hepatic and renal c admium were also depleted significantly, while brain cadmium levels we re unchanged. These compounds induced a significant reduction in the c admium levels of the spleen, and one, MPhOEDMS, produced a 10% decreas e in pancreatic cadmium. The manner in which the later injections remo ved smaller fractions of the total body cadmium is consistent with a b odily distribution of these compounds by which they are concentrated p rimarily in the kidneys and the liver, with much smaller amounts reach ing other organs. It is proposed that these compounds enter renal and hepatic cells through an anion transport system.