Annual Research & Review in Biology

This study investigated the effects of short-term repeated oral administration of sub-toxic dose of potassium cyanide on the haematological indices and the structure of the thyroid, liver, adrenal, and spleen of rabbits. A total of 16 rabbits, weighing 1.2±0.2 kg were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was the control, and the animals were treated with 10 mL/kg body weight of distilled water per os. Group 2 was treated with 0.3 mg/kg potassium cyanide (KCN) in distilled water per os. Results revealed atrophy and distended thyroid follicles with flattened epithelial cells only in the cyanide treated group. The liver revealed severe periportal lymphocytic infiltration only in the cyanide treated animals, coupled with focal areas of hepatocellular coagulative necrosis, and cholangitis. The spleen revealed mild congestion of the red pulp in both treated and control groups, while hemosiderosis was seen only in the cyanide treated group. There was no visible lesion in the adrenal gland. The values of parameters evaluated in the KCN- treated animals were as follows: Packed Cell Volume (PCV) (33.25±2.4%), Red blood Cell Count (RBC) (6.93±0.7 x 10⁶/μL), TWBC (Total White Blood cell Count) (9.4±1.0 x10³/μL), Haemoglobin Concentration (HC) (14.7±1.9 g/dL), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) (29.8±5.7 IU/mL),  Alanine amino transaminase (ALT) (12.8±1.8 IU/mL) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) (48.0±5.7 IU/mL). Those of controls were PCV (31.0±0.94%), RBC (5.45 ± O.3 x10⁶/μL), TWBC (6.8±0.43 x10³/μL), HC (11.07±0.94 g/dL), AST (16.33±0.3 IU/mL), ALT (8.33±1.0 IU/mL), ALP (23.7±2.8 IU/mL). There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the haematological indices of the treated and the control group. AST and ALP of the treated group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control.