Cyanate is formed mostly during nonenzymatic
urea biodegradation. Its active form
isocyanate reacts with
protein -NH2 and -SH groups, which changes their structure and function. The present studies aimed to investigate the effect of
cyanate on activity of the
enzymes, which possess -SH groups in the active centers and are implicated in anaerobic
cysteine transformation and
cyanide detoxification, as well as on
glutathione level and peroxidative processes in different brain structures of the rat: cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and substantia nigra. In addition, we examined whether a concomitant treatment with lipoate, a
dithiol that may act as a target of S-carbamoylation, can prevent these changes.
Cyanate-inhibited
sulfurtransferase activities and lowered
sulfide level, which was accompanied by a decrease in
glutathione concentration and elevation of
reactive oxygen species level in almost all rat brain structures. Lipoate administered in combination with
cyanate was able to prevent the above-mentioned negative
cyanate-induced changes in a majority of the examined brain structures. These observations can be promising for
chronic renal failure patients since lipoate can play a double role in these patients contributing to efficient
antioxidant defense and protection against
cyanate and
cyanide toxicity.