Chelation in metal intoxication XI: effect of thiol chelators on lead poisoned rabbits.

Potentials of 2,3 Dimercapto succinic acid (DMS) and D-Penicillamine, the currently acclaimed heavy metal chelating drugs, to enhance urinary excretion of lead and restore altered levels of urinary delta-amino-levulinic acid (delta-ALA) and blood lead, -zinc-protoporphyrin (ZPP) -delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) in lead poisoned rabbits, were compared. The better performance of DMS than D-Penicillamine has been attributed to two -SH groups as a stronger metal binding site in DMS molecule.