Renal tubular secretion of the alkanesulfonate 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate.

The in vivo tubular secretion and metabolism of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (DMPS) was examined in the chicken by use of the Sperber technique. Infusion of DMPS into the renal portal circulation of the chicken at rates equal to or less than 7.5 mumol X min-1 X kg body wt-1, resulted in a tubular excretion ratio of 0.5 for DMPS with 90% of the infused DMPS excreted in the urine unchanged. Renal tubular secretion accounted for approximately 90% of the total DMPS excreted into the urine during the infusion of DMPS at a rate of 0.75 mumol X min-1 X kg-1. The secretion of DMPS was saturable and was inhibited by p-aminohippurate (PAH), probenecid, and heptanesulfonate. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonate), isethionate (2-hydroxyethanesulfonate), and 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate had no effect on the secretion of DMPS or PAH. Renal tubular secretion may explain several pharmacological characteristics previously reported for DMPS, including the selective removal of heavy metals from the kidney.