title: Mercapto steroids in protection against mercury and lead poisoning.
abstract: When thiocholesterol is administered as liposomes, it provides significant protection against methylmercuric chloride in mice when given in three intraperitoneal injections, 0.5 hr before and 2 and 8 hr after the methylmercuric chloride. Thiositosterol, 5 alpha-cholestane-2 beta, 3 alpha-dithiol, and 5 beta-cholane-3 beta, 24-dithiol also are active, but 3 alpha-mercapto-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one, 6 beta-mercapto-5 alpha-cholestane-3 beta, 5 alpha-diol, 3 beta-mercapto-5 beta-cholanic acid, and adamantanethiol are ineffective under these conditions. Adamantanethiol is somewhat effective when administered in soybean oil. Cholestanyl amine was treated with acetylthiosuccinic anhydride to give the half amide; cleavage with hydroxylamine liberated the thiol group. This product is active against both methylmercuric chloride and lead nitrate.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds