Simultaneous administration of sodium selenite and mercuric chloride decreases efficacy of DMSA and DMPS in mercury elimination in rats

Two chelating agents meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and sodium 2,3-dimercapto-propane-1-sulphonate (DMPS) were tested for their efficiency in mercury removal from the body of rats in the presence and in the absence of selenium. Female Wistar rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride or an equimolar mixture of mercuric chloride and sodium selenite (1.5 μmol/kg body weight). The chelating agents were given orally, in excess (500 μmol DMSA/kg body weight; 300 μmol DMPS/kg body weight), 30 min after the administration of mercury and selenium. The animals were euthanized 24 h after the treatment and mercury in the kidney, liver, and 24 h urine was determined using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). The simultaneous administration of mercuric chloride and sodium selenite led to a redistribution of mercury in the organs, so that accumulation of mercury in the kidneys was decreased and in the liver increased. Selenite also caused decrease in the level of urinary mercury excretion. Both chelating agents were effective in mercury removal from the body, by increasing its urinary excretion. However, when animals were simultaneously treated with mercury and selenite, the rise of mercury excreted in the urine due to the treatment with chelating agents was lower when compared to animals receiving mercury without selenite. It is concluded that sodium selenite decreases the efficiency of DMSA and DMPS in mercury removal from the body of rats.