Mobilization of aged cadmium from isolated rat hepatocytes by sulfhydryl chelators.

Isolated hepatocytes appear to be a suitable in vitro model for the testing of the efficacy of chelating agents. In this study hepatocytes were isolated from rats exposed to CdCl2 (50 mg Cd2+/l) in drinking water for 3 months. The cells were incubated in a Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 2 hrs and the cytotoxicity was assessed using 5 types of parameters. N-benzyl-D-glucaminedithiocarbamate (BGDTC) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) were tested. Individual chelators in various concentrations were added to the incubation medium at the beginning of the experiment (t = 0). The concentration of Cd in the extracellular fluid was measured every 30 mins using flame AAS. Exposed hepatocytes did not show the signs of damage. Both chelators did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect. BGDTC was found to be efficient in the mobilization of Cd, while DMSA was ineffective.