Effects of monoalkyl dithiocarabamates on mobilization of cadmium in the mouse.

Monoalkyl dithiocarbamates are capable of mobilizing cadmium from aged intracellular deposits in which the cadmium is largely present in metallothionein. The sodium salts of monomethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl dithiocarbamates have been prepared, characterized, and examined for their relative ability to mobilize cadmium from such aged deposits in the kidneys, liver, spleen, testes, brain, and pancreas as well as from the whole body, using sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate as the positive control. Alterations in the structure of the dithiocarbamates can be correlated with alterations in organ cadmium levels. The acute toxicity of these compounds is sufficiently greater than disubstituted dithiocarbamates that their use would appear to possess few advantages, although they do seem to be more effective in reducing testicular cadmium levels.