Cyanide intoxication--III. On the analogous and different effects provoked by non-lethal and lethal challenged doses.

1. The effect of acute cyanide administration to mice in a lethal and a non-lethal dose and the anti-cyanide effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and thiosulphate were investigated. 2. The poisoning action was determined by measuring cytochrome oxidase, rhodanese and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity. 3. The toxic metabolizing degree was investigated by measuring plasma and urine thiocyanate levels. 4. The state of the sulfane sulfur pool was investigated by determining cyanide labile-sulfur levels. 5. These results support the belief that rhodanese plays a fundamental role in the detoxification process only when high levels of cyanide are administered.