Dithizone

Dithizone (CAS No. 60-10-6) is a zinc chelator. Its core biological functions include selectively disrupting zinc-rich Paneth cell granules (by chelating zinc ions), serving as a colorimetric probe to bind divalent mercury ions ( Hg²+ ) and other heavy metal ions, and participating in physiological and pathological regulation by modulating the gut microbiota and affecting NOS gene (nNOS, iNOS) expression. The limit of detection (LOD) for colorimetric Hg²+ detection is 15 μM (3 mg/L); the LOD is 3 mg/L for Hg (NO₃)₂ and 5-10 mg/L for HgCl₂; for Pb²+ and Cd²+, LOD>100 mg/L.

In animal experiments, it has dual uses for both disease model induction and model treatment: for induction, it is used to establish Paneth cell dysfunction models (mouse intraperitoneal injection 40 mg/kg) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)-related models (P14-16 mice 75 mg/kg), simulating pathological states by disrupting Paneth cells; for treatment, it is used in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) models (high-fat diet mice intravenous injection 10 mg/kg, once every 3 weeks), alleviating hepatic steatosis by modulating the gut microbiota (increasing Bacteroides abundance and decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio). It can also assist in the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) models (0.1 mg/mL for staining/identification of insulin-producing cells (IPC), incubated at 37℃ for 30 minutes). Common concentrations: in vitro 0.1 mg/mL (IPC staining); for colorimetric detection, an emulsion formulation dissolved in 3 wt% chloroform; 10 mg/kg once every 3 weeks can alleviate hepatic steatosis in HFD mice; concentrations of 15 μM and above can effectively detect Hg²+; in NEC-related models, it simulates pathological injury by reducing intestinal perfusion.

References:

[1] Berger JN, Gong H, Good M, McElroy SJ. Dithizone-induced Paneth cell disruption significantly decreases intestinal perfusion in the murine small intestine. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Nov;54(11):2402-2407. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.02.021. Epub 2019 Feb 23. PMID: 30857731; PMCID: PMC6707906.

[2] Zhang S, Tun HM, Zhang D, Chau HT, Huang FY, Kwok H, Wong DK, Mak LY, Yuen MF, Seto WK. Alleviation of Hepatic Steatosis: Dithizone-Related Gut Microbiome Restoration During Paneth Cell Dysfunction. Front Microbiol. 2022 Feb 25;13:813783. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.813783. PMID: 35283810; PMCID: PMC8914291.

[3] Aguado RJ, Mazega A, Fiol N, Tarrés Q, Mutjé P, Delgado-Aguilar M. Durable Nanocellulose-Stabilized Emulsions of Dithizone/Chloroform in Water for Hg2+ Detection: A Novel Approach for a Classical Problem. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2023 Mar 8;15(9):12580-12589. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c22713. Epub 2023 Feb 23. PMID: 36821826; PMCID: PMC9999351.

[4] Cui C, Wang X, Zheng Y, Li L, Wang F, Wei H, Peng J. Paneth cells protect intestinal stem cell niche to alleviate deoxynivalenol-induced intestinal injury. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Oct 1;264:115457. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115457. Epub 2023 Sep 7. PMID: 37688865.

[5] Dai L, Wang Q. Two-pronged approach: Therapeutic effect of biological scaffold combined with immune intervention and β-cell replacement on type 1 diabetic mice. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025 Jun;27(6):3464-3476. doi: 10.1111/dom.16373. Epub 2025 Mar 27. PMID: 40150917.