Renal Toxicity of Chronic Sodium Cyanide Exposure: A Study of Vitreous Humor in Rabbits

Abstract

Cyanide is a fast acting, potentially and deadly chemical that can exist in various forms. Exposure to sodium cyanide causes serious health effects and can be fatal. This study was designed to investigate renal toxicity of chronic sodium cyanide exposure using vitreous humor of rabbits. The following renal function parameters were investigated; electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl- and Ca2-), urea, creatinine and Kidney InjuryMolecule-1(KIM-1). Renal function parameters were assessed over 24 hours in rabbits: Group 1 (Test group) received a lethal sodium cyanide dose (1mg/kg), Group 2 received it post-sacrificed (disguised death group), and Group 3 was sacrificed without administration (control group). The following were results of parameters investigated. Test group; sodium 137.90±0.17, potassium 7.74±0.21, chloride 123.20±0.52, calcium 1.26±0.05, KIM 5.95±0.58, urea 5.95±0.45 and creatinine 74.70±0.33. Disguised group; sodium 135.80±0.14, potassium 6.76±0.18, chloride 106.80±0.45, calcium 1.16±0.02, KIM 3.12±0.23, urea 3.10±0.18 and creatinine 52.89±0.66.  Control group; sodium 135.60±0.16, potassium 6.30±0.12, chloride 105.60±0.48, calcium 1.15±0.04, KIM 2.91±0.24, urea 2.97±0.24 and creatinine 52.77±0.36. The results showed significant (p< 0.05) increase in concentration of electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-), urea, creatinine and Kidney InjuryMolecule-1(KIM-1) in test group compared to control and disguised group. However, there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in renal parameters between disguised and control group. It can be concluded that sodium cyanide is a potential poison with high toxicity effect on kidney and biochemical parameters in the vitreous humor of rabbits including, renal function test could be used in death differentiation due to sodium cyanide poisoning.