Toxicokinetic aspects of thiocyanate after oral exposure to cyanide in female Wistar rats in different physiological states

Abstract

Cyanide (CN) is an ion that has been well studied in toxicology and has been associated with several intoxication episodes: the ingestion of contaminated foods and water, chemical war, suicides, homicides, occupational exposures and the use of certain medicines. The aim of the present study was to determine the toxicokinetic parameters of thiocyante (SCN), the main metabolite of CN, after oral administration of potassium cyanide (KCN) to female rats at diestrus, gestational and lactational periods. Female Wistar rats were divided into three equal groups: virgins in the diestrus phase of the estrus cycle, females at the 14th day of gestation and females at the 14th day of lactation. Each group of rats received 3.0 mg of potassium cyanide per kilogram (KCN/kg body weight) by gavage, and blood was collected at several time points. We also collected amniotic fluid from pregnant rats and milk from the nursing rats to analyze thiocyanate concentration. The results showed that SCN levels were significantly increased in serum, milk and amniotic fluid after administration of KCN. In conclusion, the results of the present study evidence that the metabolism of CN varies greatly considering the physiologic state of the female rat, being females at estrus probably more exposed by these substances than at gestation and lactation because in these states there are other compartments, fetus and milk, which may capture these substances, as demonstrated by the V_d values.

• Amniotic fluid
• cyanide
• gestation
• milk
• rats
• thiocyanate
• toxicokinetics

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Leonila Ester Raspantini and Milena Lobão Pinheiro for their technical support.