Influence of age and time of administration of dithiocarbamate analogues on cadmium retention in rats

In the present study the influence of age and time of chelation therapy on cadmium retention in 6-, 11-and 14-day-old rats and in 6-week-old rats has been investigated. Chelating agents N-benzyl-dithiocarboxy-D-glucamine (BDCG), sodium N-(metho-xybenzyl)-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate monohydrate (MeOBDCG) and N-methyl-N-dithiocarboxy-D-glucamine (MDCG) were administered intraperitoneally to three different groups at a dose of 1 mmol kg-1 body weight on two occasions following 115mCd intraperitoneal administration; immediately and after 24 h; after 24 h and 48 h; or after 48 h and 72 h. The 115mCd retention in the whole body and organs was determined 6 days after cadmium administration. Chelation therapy very effectively reduced cadmium retention in the whole body and organs, MeOBDCG being the most effective. The effects of chelating agents were significantly more pronounced in older than younger animals and in the case of early rather than late administration. The highest fraction of cadmium administered was retained in the liver, where also the strongest effect of chelation therapy was observed. Mobilized cadmium was excreted almost exclusively by the faecal route.