Abstract

The effects of a number of mercurial compounds have been studied and changes in protein-bound sulfhydryl (PBSH) and cliuresis have been compared. Both diuretic and nondiuretic mercurials produced qualitatively the same reduction of PBSH in renal cells.

Monothiols such as cysteine HCl or glutathione, when given in relatively large doses, partially reverse the PBSH changes produced by mersalyl. Maximum diuresis occurred with a 20% reduction of the PBSH in the cells of the terminal part of the proximal tubule. It is concluded that no more than 20% of the total PBSH can be related to the mercurial diuresis.

Changes in acid-base balance had a marked influence on the PBSH changes induced by diuretic organic mercurials but had no significant effects on the PBSH changes induced by mercuric chloride or the nondiuretic mercurials, p-chloro-mercuribenzoate and methyl mercuric chloride.

The effects of the nondiuretic mercurials are discussed and an explanation has been proposed which postulates that mercurials act as diuretics by attaching to two receptor sites, one being an SH group. The nature of the second receptor site has not been determined.

The data on the effects of changes in acid-base balance on the PBSH changes produced by mercury compounds have been discussed and are compatible with the Mudge-Weiner hypothesis that mercuric ions are the active form of the mercurial diuretic.