Abstract
Summary: In growing rats from 3 weeks to 3 months old, 0·1 % potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) decreased the plasma protein-bound iodine level by 47 % and the total DNA in the mammary gland by 11 %, but had no effect on the total KNA. Administration of thiocyanate in the form of 0·1, 0·3 and 0·5 % KSCN during pregnancy and 14 d of lactation lowered the protein-bound iodine level by 48–66 %, the total DNA by 11–47 % and the total RNA by 14–63 %, depending on the KSCN dosage. The 14-d-old litters of rats receiving thiocyanate weighed 4–41 % less than those in the control group.