Increased urinary excretion of zinc and copper by mercuric chloride injection in rats

The effects of HgCl2 on urinary excretion of Zn, Cu and metallothionein at different time intervals were observed in male Wistar rats. The rats were given a daily intraperitoneal injection of 203HgCl2 (0.5 or 1.0 mg Hg kg-1) for 2 days. 203Hg, Zn, Cu and metallothionein in urine, kidney and liver were analyzed. Significant increases in urinary Zn and Cu concentrations were found in HgCl2-dosed groups. Elevated urinary Zn and Cu concentrations were accompanied by an increased metallothionein excretion in urine at different time periods. Zn concentration in urine remained elevated during the entire observation period of 7 days. There were also increased concentrations of Cu and Zn in the renal cortex in one of the two exposed groups. The results indicate that urinary Cu and Zn are related to the manifestation of renal toxicity and/or the synthesis of metallothionein in kidney induced by mercury.