title: Interaction of spironolactone with mercury. A possible molecular mechanism.
abstract: The protective activity of spironolactone (CAS 52-01-7) against mercuric acetate intoxication and the action of a spironolactone-mercuric acetate complex were studied on female Sprague-Dawley rats. Spironolactone was given 30 min after the toxic agent. It was found that spironolactone reversed the toxic effects of mercury, the mercury-spironolactone complex was much less toxic than mercuric acetate and its toxicity disappeared with the administration of spironolactone. A molecular mechanism for the protective action of spironolactone against mercury intoxication is proposed. The presence of both the steroidal skeleton and the thioacetyl group in the same molecule is necessary for the protection against mercury intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Kourounakis
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pouskoulelis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rekka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002192:Canrenone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013148:Spironolactone; D002192:Canrenone; D008628:Mercury; C029823:mercuric acetate