Beneficial Effects of Combined Administration of Thiamine, Methionine or Zinc With Few Chelating Agents in Preventing Acute Cadmium Toxicity in Mice

Objective: The efficacy of thiamine, methionine or zinc and few chelators either individually or in combination, to prevent acute cadmium toxicity in mice, was investigated. Methods: Mice were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) a single lethal dose of cadmium and within few minutes were treated i.p. with either one of the chelators, thiamine, methionine or zinc either individually or in combination. Mortality was observed for next 3 days. In another set of experiment, mice were administered an acute dose of cadmium and were again treated with the above stated chemicals either individually or in combination. Distribution of cadmium in blood, liver and kidneys was determined after 48 hours. Results: Combined administration of zinc and sodium 2,3- dimercaptopropane 1 -sulfonate (DMPS) was more effective than any other treatment in preventing lethal effects of cadmium and accumulation of cadmium in blood and liver. Conclusion: Thiol chelators when administered in combination with zinc or methionine were more effective than Ca trisodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (CaNa 3 DTPA) in preventing appearance of toxic signs of acute cadmium toxicity.