Effect of a water-soluble phosphine on acute mercury poisoning in mice

A study has been carried out on the ability of a water-soluble phosphine, 3-(diphenylphosphine)benzenesulfonate (DPPBS), to offset the acute toxicity of mercuric chloride. Although the phosphorus atoms in this molecule have been shown to form fairly stable bonds to mercury (II), the results with mice show that the inherent toxicity of the water-soluble phosphine-mercury complex is sufficiently high that it is ineffective as an antidote although partial protection from acute renal tubular necrosis is provided by DPPBS.