Orally active alpha-ketohydroxypyridine iron chelators: effects on iron and other metal mobilisations.

Increased 59Fe excretion was observed following the intragastric and intraperitoneal administration of 1-ethyl- and 1-methyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-ones in normal and iron-loaded, 59Fe-labelled mice, respectively. Administration of these chelators and desferrioxamine parenterally or intragastrically to an iron-loaded rabbit caused no increase in Cu, Zn, Ca or Mg urinary excretion. Iron mobilisation was also observed following the incubation of the chelators with ferritin and haemosiderin but not with haemoglobin. Desferrioxamine under the same conditions caused methaemoglobin formation.