PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Franz Goldstein
AU  - Ruth Robertson Holburn
TI  - ON THE MECHANISM OF THE ACUTE TOXIC ACTION OF THIOCYANATE
DP  - 1949 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 285--290
VI  - 96
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/96/3/285.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/96/3/285.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1949 Jul 01; 96
AB  - 1. Lethal and sublethal doses of sodium thiocyanate were given to six dogs, and changes in the arterial and venous oxygen content and capacity in peripheral blood were observed. 2. A marked rise in the venous oxygen content and saturation after thiocyanate administration was observed. 3. The arterial oxygen content and saturation after thiocyanate administration were found to be decreased significantly. 4. In four dogs on which complete studies were performed, the arterio-venous oxygen difference at the height of the intoxication was found to be reduced to an average of 1.63 vol. per cent from a control average of 6.99 vol. per cent. 5. The clinical picture of acute thiocyanate poisoning appears to be that of an histotoxic hypoxia. The hypothesis is advanced that the acute toxic effects of thiocyanates are due mainly to their respiratory enzyme blocking properties.