Influence of Dietary Inorganic Cyanide (KCN) on placental Thiocyanate transfer, tissue hodanese activity and performance of rats during gestation

Abstract

Thirty two bred rats were allotted to two diets to investigate the influence of non-addition or addition of 1000 ppm KCN to cassava - soybean diets on thiocyanate concentrations, tissue rhodanese activity and performance parameters. KCN caused a non-significant (P > 0.05) depression in body weight gain but had no effect on weights of liver, kidney and placenta, nor on number and weight of 19 day old foetus.

High (1000 ppm) KCN level caused a significant (P < 0.05) increase in urinary thiocyanate excretion of thiocyanate. It however had no marked effect on serum protein bound 'iodine, ammiotic fluid thiocyanate, rhodanese activity of foetal and material tissues nor on foetal thiocyanate concentration.