The effect of certain chelating compounds on the urinary excretion of copper by the rat: observations on their clinical significance.
1. A screening procedure is described to assess rapidly the clinical potential of chelating agents for the treatment of Wilson's disease. 2. Rats were used as the test animal; they were kept in metabolic cages and the urine was collected in copper-free containers. The compounds investigated were given by mouth as a standard dose of 100 mg. Copper was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 3. Basal urine copper excretion was 65-1 +/- SE 2-93 nmol/24 h (4-1 microgram +/- 0-185). After penicillamine this rose to 367-1 nmol and after trien to 305-9 nmol. 4. Certain compounds caused a reduction in the amount of copper excreted in the urine, probably by forming insoluble chelates with the metal, hence rendering it unavailable for excretion at the glomerulus.
D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000652:urine*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014266:Trientine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D005029:Ethylenediamines; D003300:Copper; D010396:Penicillamine; D014266:Trientine