Myocardial elements content and cardiac function after repeated i.v. administration of DMPS in rabbits.

1. A dithiol chelating agent--2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulphonate (DMPS)--may be administered in acute or chronic intoxication with certain heavy metals (e.g. cadmium, cobalt, lead) that may cause cardiotoxicity. 2. DMPS can act as a depleter of physiologically important elements (e.g. potassium, magnesium, calcium) in various tissues including cardiac one. The possibility of subsequent alteration in cardiac function cannot be excluded. 3. Changes in the myocardial concentration of the above mentioned elements at the end of the experiment and cardiac function were studied during repeated i.v. administration of DMPS as single doses of 50 mg/kg/ week for 10 weeks in rabbits. Biochemical, haematological and histological examinations were also performed. 4. Most of the measured parameters were not affected by the repeated administration of DMPS. A significant decrease in magnesium and a near significant decrease in calcium in cardiac muscle was not accompanied by functional or morphological changes. It is still suggested, however, that care should be taken in using DMPS for treating patients with cardiotoxicity as a result of poisoning with heavy metals.