Distribution of zinc and copper in thiocyanate administered rats

Smoking, a form of cyanide exposure influences the in vivo elemental status . Considering the complex interactions between anions and the cellular traf fic of vital trace elements, in this study the relationship between-thiocya nate (SCN-) the major metabolite of cyanide, which is an anion and the in v ivo distribution of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) is investigated. Swiss albino male rats were divided into three groups. Group A (n=10) and g roup B (n=10) received subcutaneously 60 mg/kg/day and 120 mg/kg/day SCN- r espectively for 15 days. Saline was injected to the control group (n=10) at the same period. After drawing blood for SCN- analysis, rats were decapitated. Hepatic, rena l, myocardial and skeletal muscle specimens were wet digested with nitric: sulphuric: perchloric acid (3:1:1) (v:v:v). Tissue Cu and Zn were determine d by ICP-AES, and plasma SCN- by colorimetry. Plasma SCN-was significantly elevated in both group A (p< 0.05, 30.34 +/- 7.44 mu mol/L) and group B (p< 0.01, 104.14 +/- 17.48 mu mol/L) compared to the controls (28.45 +/- 5.78 m u mol/L). As to the Cu and Zn content of the tissues analysed, no significa nt variations could be detected in the SCN- treated rats with respect to my ocardial and renal tissues. On the contrary, hepatic Cu was elevated in bot h groups (p<0.01) with a similar pattern in skeletal muscle (p<0.05, in gro up A; p<0.01, in group B). An increase in Zn could only be noted in skeleta l muscle of group B (p< 0.01). This study implies that SCN- has to some extent an effect in the in vivo di stribution of Cu and Zn.