Histopathological changes induced in liver, kidney, heart and pancreas of rabbits by prolonged oral cyanide exposure

The aim of the present study was to determine the deleterious effects of prolonged oral cyanide insult on various organs and tissues in rabbits. For this purpose, 12 locally bred adult male rabbits were allocated into two groups of 6 viz. control and experimental. Rabbits in control group were offered feed only while the rabbits in experimental group received feed plus potassium cyanide [KCN] at 3 mg/kg body weight orally for a period of 40 days. None of the rabbit in both the groups demonstrated any of the gross changes in any organ on postmortem examination. Liver was normal in size, shape, texture and color. Kidneys were also normal in size and color. Histopathological examination revealed severe hepatocyte vacuolation and degeneration in liver of rabbits in experimental group. There was also excessive congestion in liver and bile duct of rabbits in experimental group. Kidneys of rabbits in experimental group demonstrated severe glomerular and tubular necrosis and congestion. In the tubular epithelial cells, pyknotic nuclei were also present. On the other hand, heart and pancreas of rabbits in both control and experimental group did not show any histopathological change in microscopic structures. In conclusion, prolonged oral cyanide administration could have harmful effects on liver and kidney functions

Assessing the efficacy of aqueous garlic extract, sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate against prolonged oral cyanide exposure in rabbits

This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of aqueous garlic extract, sodium nitrite [SNT], sodium thiosulfate [STS] and hydroxocobalamin against oral cyanide exposure in rabbits. For this purpose, forty two adult male rabbits were divided randomly into 7 groups of 6 animals [A-G] each. Rabbits in group A were offered feed only and served as negative control, while the rabbits in group B received feed plus potassium cyanide [KCN] at 3mg/kg orally and were kept as positive control. Animals in group C received feed, KCN and intraperitoneal injection [IP] of aqueous garlic extract at 500mg/kg. Rabbits in group D were given feed, KCN and IP injection of STS at 600mg/kg. Members in group E received feed, KCN and IP injection of both aqueous garlic extract at 500mg/kg and SNT at 20mg/kg. Animals in group F were given feed, KCN and IP injection of both STS at 600mg/kg and SNT at 20mg/kg, while the rabbits in group G received feed, KCN and IP injection of hydroxocobalamin at 300mg/kg. The treatments were given to respective groups for 40 days. The efficacy of the antidotes was measured on the basis of changes in biochemical profile of rabbits in each group. In this study, hydroxocobalamin was found to be significantly more effective cyanide [CNI] antidote than garlic, STS, SNT plus garlic extract, or SNT and STS, either alone or in combination. A combination of SNT and garlic extract was the second most effective CNI antidote. The efficacy of garlic alone was significantly higher than STS alone or in combination with SNT. The efficacy of combined SNT and STS was superior to STS alone in treating rabbits with CNI toxicity. In conclusion, aqueous garlic extract alone or in combination with STS can effectively be used against cyanide toxicity