The effect of 2,4-dihydroxypyridine- N-oxide, a new orally active iron chelator, on iron excretion in mice

Abstract

A comparative study of the iron chelating properties of 2,4-dihydroxypyridine- N-oxide with heteroaromatic chelators containing an α-ketohydroxy binding site has been performed in iron loaded mice labelled with 59Fe lactoferrin. All the chelators were administered at a dose of 300 mg/kg either intraperitoneally or intragastrically. The pyridine derivatives were the only chelators which caused increased 59Fe excretion following their intragastric administration to mice. 1,2-Dimethyl-3-hyroxypyrid-4-one was the most effective oral chelator of all, followed by 2,4-dihydroxypyridine- N-oxide which caused further increase in 59Fe excretion when it was administered twice a day at a 200 mg/kg dose.