Effects of penicillamine and hydroxyquinoline on absorption of orally ingested 65zinc in the rat.

The influence of high doses of 2 chelating agents, D-penicillamine and iodochlorohydroxyquin, on the metabolism of orally ingested 65 Zn was studied on rats by means of whole body counting assay technique. Both drugs were found to increase zinc absorption in a dose-dependent way to values significantly above those of the untreated control group. At identical doses D-penicillamine had a significantly stronger enhancing effect than the 8-hydroxyquinoline derivate, except for the highest dosage which was 100 mg daily. The turnover of the absorbed 65Zn fraction was followed during the time of observation which was 11 days. The elimination rate was practically identical in all experimental groups, except for the 100 mg D-penicillamine group in which the biological half-life of 65Zn was significantly decreased as compared to the control group.