Protection of mice against the lethal effects of sodium metavanadate: A quantitative comparison of a number of chelating agents

10 Chelating agents were administered to mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection in order to compare their relative effectiveness in preventing death after a single i.p. injection of NaVO3. Ascorbic acid, Tiron (4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene-disulfonic acid) and deferoxamine were the most effective antidotes for acute NaVO3-toxicity. The therapeutic index of ascorbic acid against 0.61 mmol/kg NaVO3 was found to be 95.2. This was 4.6 and 12.2 times greater than those of Tiron and Deferoxamine respectively. L-Cysteine greater than Na2CaEDTA greater than Na3CaDTPA reduced the acute mortality of mice following i.p. injection of NaVO3. Sodium salicylate, D,L-penicillamine, DMSA and DDC were not effective as antidotes for acute NaVO3-toxicity.