International Journal of Biosafety, Biosecurity & Bioscience Innovations
E-ISSN: 3027-0235
Volume 4, No. 1, 2026
Pages 1-23
DOI: 10.36108/ijbbb/6202.40.0110
Dose-Dependent Hematological Effects of Sodium Cyanate (NaOCN) in Adult Wistar Rats: Gender Variability and Toxicological Thresholds via Probit and Weibull Analysis
UNAEZE Chizoba Henrietta1 and *OLU, Joshua2
1Environmental Biotechnology and Bio conservation Department, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Along Musa Yar’adua Expressway, Airport Road, Lugbe, Abuja
2HONA Tech Ltd, Abuja, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author- Email: olu@lujosh.com Orcid No: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5865-3640
Abstract
Sodium cyanate (NaOCN), historically used for sickle cell disease treatment, poses potential hematological risks due to environmental and occupational exposure. This study investigates the dose-dependent hematological effects of NaOCN (0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg bw) in adult Wistar rats (n=48, 24 males, 24 females) over 7 days, focusing on gender variability and toxicological thresholds. Blood samples were analyzed for 17 hematological parameters using a Sysmex XN-1000V analyzer. Two-way MANOVA revealed a significant NaOCN dose-sex interaction (Wilks’ Lambda=0.001, p<0.001, Partial η²=0.710), with significant effects on neutrophils, MCV, MCHC, RDW-CV, RDW-SD, and MPV (p<0.05, Partial η²=0.456–0.691). Tukey HSD tests identified the 3 mg/kg bw dose as a critical threshold, showing lower MCH, MCHC, and MPV, and higher RDW-CV compared to other doses. Females exhibited greater sensitivity (e.g., WBC EC50: 2.695 vs. male 8.680 mg/kg bw). Probit and Weibull models estimated LD50 at ~13.75 mg/kg bw (95% CI: 9.58–17.92) and LD90 at ~27.06 mg/kg bw, with females more susceptible (LD50: 12.10 mg/kg bw). Low EC50 values for HCT (0.198 mg/kg bw), MCV (0.226 mg/kg bw), and MCHC (0.192 mg/kg bw) indicate high sensitivity at low doses. These findings highlight NaOCN’s dose-dependent hematological toxicity, with significant gender differences, likely due to hormonal influence, hemoglobin carbamylation and metabolic variations. The narrow therapeutic window (100% mortality at 20 mg/kg bw) underscores the need for sex-stratified safety assessments in NaOCN applications.
Keywords: Dose-Dependent Effects, Gender Variability, Hematological Toxicity, Sodium Cyanate (NaOCN), Toxicological Thresholds, Wistar Rats
