AJP - Renal Physiology, Vol 249, Issue 1 69-F73, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Cyanate and temperature regulation in anephric rabbits
S. M. Eiger and M. J. Kluger
Knochel and Seldin proposed that the lowered body temperature observed
during uremia was caused by an elevation in the circulating levels of
cyanate. To test this hypothesis, normal rabbits were infused with varying
concentrations of sodium cyanate. Infusion of pharmacological doses of
cyanate (plasma concentration rose to 1,080 +/- 70 microM, n = 5) resulted
in reductions in body temperature similar to that found during uremia;
however, when normal rabbits were nephrectomized the plasma cyanate
concentration only rose from 3.7 +/- 1.6 to 18 +/- 1.8 microM (n = 8) by
1-day postnephrectomy (body temperature fell 0.33 +/- 0.1 degrees C, n =
6). Plasma cyanate concentration did not rise further on days 2 and 3
postnephrectomy, despite a continued fall in body temperature. Infusion of
cyanate in control rabbits to plasma concentrations attained 1-3 days
postnephrectomy did not result in a fall in body temperature. Based on the
failure of pathophysiological concentrations of cyanate to cause a
reduction in the body temperature of normal rabbits, we conclude that
cyanate is not responsible for the lowered body temperature associated with
the acute response to uremia.
