Effect of Viosterol on Excretion of Lead. ∗

Abstract

It is well known that large doses of viosterol cause a hypercalcemia and increased elimination of calcium from the body and good evidence is accumulating to the effect that the source of the excess of the calcium under such conditions is from the bone, at least when the diet is calcium poor. 1 , 2 , 3 Since Aub 4 has shown that the metabolism of lead parallels the metabolism of calcium, large doses of viosterol should promote the elimination of lead from the body. Experiments to determine the effect of large doses of viosterol on lead excretion in cats and guinea pigs and on lead storage, and the course of lead poisoning in guinea pigs were carried out. Throughout the series Viosterol Squibb 250D was used. All assays for lead were made by the Fairhall method. The guinea pigs were kept on a normal diet of oats, hay, cabbage, or lettuce. The cats were given low calcium diets consisting of meat and fish or vegetables. Viosterol dosage in the 2 cat experiments was 20 drops daily and in the case of the guinea pigs, 6 drops daily in 2 experiments and 10 drops daily in one.

In both cat experiments the excretion of lead was immediately increased after the administration of viosterol. In the first experiment the viosterol cats excreted more lead than the control group in each of 5 three-day periods. The difference between the groups was greatest in the second period when the viosterol cats showed a lead elimination 10 times greater than the control group.

In the second cat experiment the average daily excretion of lead per cat rose sharply in the first 3 day period after viosterol was begun and reached a peak in the fourth period.