title: Some histologic and biochemical evidence for mitigation of cyanide-induced tissue lesions by antioxidant vitamin administration in rabbits.
abstract: The effect of antioxidant vitamins on cyanide-induced tissue damage was investigated in New Zealand White rabbits using a combination of colorimetric, spectrophotometric, enzymatic, gravimetric and histological methods. Three groups of rabbits (six per group) were used in a 4-week feeding experiment. One group received pure grower's mash, while a second group was fed mash containing 400 ppm inorganic cyanide. The third group received daily oral doses of vitamins A, C and E, in addition to mash and 400 ppm cyanide. There were significant decreases (P < 0.05) in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and alkaline phosphatase (AP) in the liver, lung and kidney of the two groups given cyanide, but the decreases were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the group fed antioxidant vitamins. In addition, the antioxidant vitamin supplementation led to marked reductions in the severity of histopathological degeneration in these tissues. These results strongly suggest that cyanide-induced tissue lesions may be relieved by adequate intake of antioxidant vitamin supplements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Benin, P M B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria. ajino@uniben.edu
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Okolie
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Iroanya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003486:Cyanides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D004798:Enzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003486:Cyanides; D004798:Enzymes; D013861:Thiocyanates; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid