Protection against Cyanide Poisoning by the Co-administration of Sodium Nitrite and Hydroxylamine in Rats

Abstract

1 The protectiveness of combined treatment with sodium nitrite (SN) and hydroxylamine (HA) in cyanide intoxication was investigated in male rats.

2 Pretreatment with equimolar dose of SN or HA produced a significant protection against cyanide poisoning as shown by the protection index (LD₅₀ of cyanide in protected rats/LD₅₀ of cyanide in saline-treated rats).

3 The co-administration of SN and HA as a split dose produced an optimal and sustained methaemoglobinaemia.

4 Pretreatment with combined SN and HA administration at different time intervals offered sustained protection against cyanide and resultant cytochrome oxidase inhibition.

5 Adjunction of sodium thiosulphate (STS) in the SN + HA regimen further augmented the protection against cyanide poisoning.

6 The results suggest that pretreatment with SN + HA co-administration could significantly reduce the toxic manifestation of cyanide.

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