• DOI:10.1007/BF02081855
• Corpus ID: 27284731

Protection by steroids against acute HgCl2 poisoning

@article{Selye1970ProtectionBS,
  title={Protection by steroids against acute HgCl2 poisoning},
  author={Hans Selye and Imre M{\'e}cs and S{\'a}ndor Szab{\'o}},
  journal={International Urology and Nephrology},
  year={1970},
  volume={2},
  pages={287-301}
}

• H. Selye, I. Mécs, S. Szabó
• Published 1 September 1970
• Biology
• International Urology and Nephrology

Experiments on rats indicate that the fatal renal damage normally produced by acute HgCl2 intoxication is more effectively prevented by thioacetyl containing steroids (e.g., spironolactone, spiroxasone or emdabol) than by inorganic sodium thioacetate. Steroids possesing sulfur in forms other than thioacetyl, as well as steroids devoid of sulfur, did not protect against acute HgCl2 intoxication under our experimental conditions. Among a large series of organic and inorganic sulfur compounds, only dimercaprol (BAL) and Na-thioacetate exhibited any noteworthy antimercurial effect in acute tests. However, dimercaprol possesses considerable inherent toxicity whereas sodium thioacetate, though well tolerated in itself, frequently causes sudden death when given in combination with mercury. In view of these findings the thioacetylated steroids appear to represent a promising class of mercury antidotes.