Cyanide, protein and iodine interaction in the performance and metabolism of rats.

Performance and metabolic traits were measured in sixty-four growing rats fed on varying levels of dietary cyanide, protein and iodine. The presence of cyanide in the diets caused a non-significant reduction in both feed consumption and growth rate. Moreover, on protein deficient diets, the lowest body weight gain was obtained in the animals with 750 ppm cyanide. Iodine deficiency did not have any marked influence on performance. Dietary cyanide significantly increased serum and urinary thiocyanate concentration while iodine deficiency caused significant reductions in serum protein bound iodine (PBI). Interactions of protein deficiency and dietary cyanide also significantly reduced serum thiocyanate concentrations, while interactions of the three dietary variables significantly reduced kidney protein content.

Cyanide, protein and iodine interactions in the performance, metabolism and pathology of pigs.

Performance and metabolic and pathological changes were evaluated in 48 growing pigs fed different levels of dietary protein, cyanide and iodine. Protein deficiency reduced urinary iodine excretion and the concentrations in serum of protein, protein bound iodine and thiocyanate. It also reduced liver rhodanese activity and caused a decrease in urinary thiocyanate excretion which was not significant. Dietary cyanide increased urinary thiocyanate and iodine excretion and serum thiocyanate concentration while the basal diet reduced urinary iodine excretion and serum PBI. Pathological studies showed that cyanide treatment had no marked effect on the microanatomy of the tissues examined. Dietary protein deficiency caused histological changes in the thyroid gland and bone which suggested a decline in metabolic activity. Iodine deficiency caused hyperplastic goitre in the experimental animals.