Comparative study on the effects of salinomycin, monensin and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid on the concentrations of lead, calcium, copper, iron and zinc in lungs and heart in lead-exposed mice.

The results demonstrated the potential application of polyether ionophorous antibiotic salinomycin as antidote for treatment of Pb-induced toxicity in the lungs and heart. The possible complexation of the polyether ionophorous antibiotics with Ca(II) and Zn(II), which can diminish the endogenous concentrations of both ions in the lungs should be taken into account.