[Production of cyanide in the rat liver from 3-aminopropionitrile].

CN- Production was investigated from a saturated mononitrile, 3-aminopropionitrile, in small liver pieces and liver homogenates. Results show that CN- production is a function of time and of the concentration of active ingredient, with a trend to saturation in both cases. Similarly, cell integrity is not required for the biotransformation of 3-aminopropionitrile to occur. Cofactors such as NADPH must be present to reach high level activities. The effect of free radicals scavengers such as mannitol and DMSO was also studied.