EFFECT OF CHELATE TREATMENTS ON KIDNEY, BONE AND BRAIN LEAD LEVELS OFLEAD-INTOXICATED MICE

The effects of chelating agent treatment with meso-2,3-dimercaptosucci nic acid (DMSA), Na(2)CaEDTA, Na(2)ZnEDTA, and Na(3)ZnDTPA on the orga n lead levels of lead-loaded mice have been determined. At 1 mmol/kg/d ay i.p., all caused reductions in the lead levels of the kidney after four injections, but only Na(2)CaEDTA produced a significant reduction in brain lead. All chelating agents caused significant reductions in kidney and brain lead levels when administered at a daily dose of 1 mm ol/kg/day for eight days, but only DMSA reduced the bone lead level. I n animals given 50 mg Pb/kg or 100 mg Pb/kg, the administration of Na( 2)CaEDTA or DMSA at 1 mmol/kg/day x 8 produced significant reductions in kidney, bone and brain lead levels, but DMSA produced greater reduc tions of bone lead in both groups and of kidney lead in the group give n 100 mg Pb/kg. An examination of published data describing the effect of chelating agent treatment on brain lead levels indicates that DMSA produces a reduction in brain lead levels under all conditions examin ed to date.