Evaluation of the efficacy of various chelating agents on urinary excretion and tissue distribution of vanadium in rats.

The effect of repeated intraperitoneal administration of Tiron (4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid), ascorbic acid, deferoxamine (DFOA) or 2-mercaptosuccinic acid on urinary excretion and tissue distribution of vanadium was assessed in rats which had previously received 12 intraperitoneal injections of sodium metavanadate (1.84 mg/kg per injection) or vanadyl sulphate trihydrate (6.35 mg/kg per injection) during a 4-week period. Chelating agents were administered daily for 5 days at doses equal to one-eighth of their respective LDSO. Only Tiron significantly decreased the tissue concentration of vanadium, whereas DFOA and Tiron significantly enhanced the urinary excretion of vanadium after repeated parenteral administration of sodium metavanadate. Again, only Tiron significantly increased the urinary elimination of vanadium following vanadyl sulphate administration. The results of this study show that Tiron has potential beneficial effects in the treatment of repeated intraperitoneal vanadium poisoning, while the effectiveness of DFOA is very uncertain. 2-Mercaptosuccinic and ascorbic acids were not effective as antidotes for parenteral vanadium intoxication.