Increased Brain Uptake of Copper and Zinc in Mice Caused by Diethyldithiocarbamate

Abstract

Mice given ⁶⁴CuCl₂ and ⁶⁵ZnCl₂ (10 μmol/kg) were treated with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (0.5 mmol/kg). The treatment increased the brain level of radioactive copper five-fold and that of radioactive zinc three-fold. Such redistribution of metal ions may be explained from the formation of lipophilic metal chelates. The increased brain levels may involve neurotoxic effects.