[Urinary copper excretion from rats following administration of aliphatic and alicyclic polyamines (author's transl)].

The cupriuretic effectivity of tetradentate chelating agents was measured in rats and compared with that of D-penicillamine. The applied chelators are aliphatic and alicyclic tetramines and tetramine-analogous substances with two nitrogen-atoms substituted by oxygen. Urine copper excretion was measured during 24 h (and 6 and the following 18 h, respectively) after single and repeated doses over a period of 5 days. The aliphatic tetramines, triethylenetetramine (TETA, TRIEN) and BE 6184, were the most active substances. Simultaneous application of TETA and D-penicillamine does not induce a summation or potentiation of the copper elimination. After s.c. application TETA seems to be three times more effective than orally. The potency of aliphatic and alicyclic tetramines is discussed on the basis of in vitro data.