INHIBITION OF MERCURIAL DIURESIS BY NONDIURETIC MERCURIALS

¹ Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York

The nondiuretic mercurial compounds, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (p-CMB) and p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid, prevented and also reversed the diuretic effect of mercurial diuretics. Ethyl mercury chloride and methyl mercury chloride, also nondiuretic mercurials, showed no such action.

Two alkylating agents, Dibenamine and SY-28, which might be expected to interact with renal sulfhydryl groups, did not affect mercurial diuresis. A trivalent organic arsenical likewise was inactive.

The effects of p-CMB were specific for mercurials since the action of chlorothiazide was not modified. When injected during a saline diuresis, p-CMB had no effect on urine flow or chloride excretion.

It is suggested that these results can be explained by a competition between the nondiuretic compounds and mercuric ions for essential sulfhydryl groups of the receptor.