Prevention by chelating agents of metal-induced developmental toxicity

Chelating agents such as calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL), or D-penicillamine (D-PA) have been widely used for the past 4 decades as antidotes for the treatment of acute and chronic metal poisoning. In recent years, meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (DMPS) and sodium 4,5-dihydroxybenzene-1,3-disulfonate (Tiron) have also shown to be effective to prevent against toxicity induced by a number of heavy metals. The purpose of the present article was to review the protective activity of various chelating agents against the embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of well-known developmental toxicants (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, uranium, and vanadium). DMSA and DMPS were found to be effective in alleviating arsenate- and arsenite-induced teratogenesis, whereas BAL afforded only some protection against arsenic-induced embryo/fetal toxicity. Also, DMSA, DMPS, and Tiopronin were effective in ameliorating methyl mercury-induced developmental toxicity. Although the embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of vanadate were significantly reduced by Tiron, no significant amelioration of uranium-induced embryotoxicity was observed after treatment with this chelator.