title: Sodium nitroprusside, a convenient source of dietary cyanide for the study of chronic cyanide toxicity.
abstract: 1. The suitability of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a source of dietary cyanide has been tested with growing chicks and with hens by measuring plasma or urinary thiocyanate; the major detoxication product of cyanide. 2. Growth and food intake were depressed and plasma thiocyanate concentration was increased in chicks in a progressive manner as the dietary concentration of SNP was increased from 0 to 0.5 g/kg. 3. In laying hens, urinary excretion of thiocyanate was increased fivefold by including SNP in the diet at 0.3 g/kg. 4. It is concluded that SNP is a suitable and convenient source of dietary cyanide for the investigation of chronic cyanide toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent, England.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Elzubeir
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D003486:Cyanides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005292:Ferricyanides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D003486:Cyanides; D005292:Ferricyanides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D009599:Nitroprusside