Effect of phenobarbitone on the biliary excretion of methylmercury in rats and mice.

Abstract

REABSORPTION of methylmercury excreted with bile1 is one of the major factors responsible for its long biological half-life. Without preventing reabsorption there is no point in increasing the biliary excretion of this highly toxic compound. The discovery that polythiolated resins given in food can trap methylmercury in the intestine and can increase its faecal excretion2 has, however, changed the situation and prompted research to increase biliary excretion with penicillamine of BAL (ref. 3). It is known that phenobarbitone enhances bile flow4 and the biliary excretion of a variety of compounds5, so we investigated its effect on the biliary excretion of methylmercury in rats and on the faecal excretion of methylmercury in mice given polythiolated resin in their food.