A comparative study of effect of oral chronic cyanide administration on some rabbit tissue ATPases.

Abstract

The effect of oral KCN administration on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase activities was studied in some rabbit tissues. Generally, the order of activity of the enzymes was kidney > liver > ileum > colon. There were significant decreases (P < 0.05) in the activities of all the ATPases in the tissues of KCN-treated rabbits relative to controls. The decreases in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were most pronounced in liver and kidney. The decreases in ATPases suggest impairment of membrane function as a result of the toxic effect of cyanide.