Current therapies for inorganic mercury (Hg 2ϩ ) intoxication include administration of a metal chelator, either 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid (DMPS) or meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). After exposure to either chelator, Hg 2ϩ is rapidly eliminated from the kidneys and excreted in the urine, presumably as an S-conjugate of DMPS or DMSA. The multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2) has been implicated in this process. We hypothesize that Mrp2 mediates the secretion of DMPSor DMSA-S-conjugates of Hg 2ϩ from proximal tubular cells. . Twenty-four and 28 h later, rats were injected with saline, DMPS, or DMSA. Tissues were harvested 48 h after HgCl 2 exposure. The renal and hepatic burden of Hg 2ϩ in the saline-injected TR Ϫ rats was greater than that of controls. In contrast, the amount of Hg 2ϩ excreted in urine and feces of TR Ϫ rats was less than that of controls. DMPS, but not DMSA, significantly reduced the renal and hepatic content of Hg 2ϩ in both groups of rats, with the greatest reduction in controls. A significant increase in urinary and fecal excretion of Hg 2ϩ