Excretion of Methyl Mercury in Rat Bile: The Effect of Thioctic Acid, Thionalide, Hexadecyl‐ and Octadecylmercaptoacetate

Abstract

Thioctic acid markedly increased the SH and sulfide content of bile. This probably reflected the reduction of thioctic acid in the liver, followed by biliary excretion of a reduced derivative. The total biliary excretion of methyl mercury was not increased. Thionalide markedly inhibited biliary excretion of methyl mercury. Simultaneously, the SH and sulfide content of bile decreased. This was probably caused by the conjugation of thionalide to glutathione in the liver, thereby blocking the biliary excretion of methyl mercury. Hexadecylmercaptoacetate increased the biliary content of methyl mercury moderately after a temporary decrease; biliary SH and sulfide concentrations were unchanged. Octadecylmercaptoacetate did not change the biliary content of methyl mercury, SH and sulfides significantly. Smaller parts of hexadecylmercaptoacetate, octadecylmercaptoacetate and thionalide seemed to be excreted as such in bile. Methyl mercury could not be transported from liver to bile as complexed to the sulfides thioctic acid, thionalide, hexa- and octadecylmercaptoacetate.