Pyruvate and lactate metabolism in livers of guinea pigs perfused with chelating agents after repeated treatment with As2O3.

The relative effectiveness of British Anti-Lewisite (BAL), dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS), dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), and a new metal binding agent 2,3-bis(acetylthio)propanesulfonamide (BAPSA) was compared by determining their effect on pyruvate metabolism in perfused livers of guinea pigs after repeated treatment with As2O3. Guinea pigs received As2O3, 2.5 mg/kg s.c. twice daily on 5 consecutive days (total dose 25 mg/kg). Sixteen hours after the last dose the livers were perfused (2.5 ml/min/g liver) with Krebs-Henseleit buffer and glucose (10 mmol/l) as substrate for 80 min. After 50 min of perfusion 0.1 or 0.7 mmol/l BAL, DMPS, DMSA, or BAPSA were added to the perfusate for 30 min. Samples of the effluent were collected every 10 min; lactate and pyruvate were determined enzymatically. As compared to controls, a significant decrease in the pyruvate and lactate efflux was observed in perfused livers of guinea pigs treated with As2O3. After influx of BAL (0.1 mmol/l), DMSA (0.7 mmol/l), and BAPSA (0.1 and 0.7 mmol/l) respectively, the pyruvate and lactate efflux and the oxygen consumption (exception BAL 0.1 mmol/l) increased and reached control values without arsenic treatment. On the other hand, the pyruvate and lactate efflux and the oxygen consumption was further significantly decreased after influx of 0.7 mmol/l BAL.