Inhibition of the Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenases in Rat Liver by a Cyanamide Derivative present in a Commercial Standard Diet for Small Animals

The inhibition of the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity in rat liver by an unknown dietary factor, present in a commercial standard diet for rats, was studied. The inhibitory factor was located in the calcinated bonemeal fraction of the diet and was identified by infrared spectrophotometry and thin–layer and paper chromatography as cyanamide or a cyanamide derivative. The occurrence and formation of cyanamide in calcinated bonemeal, its effects on the acetaldehyde dehydrogenases and the metabolism of acetaldehyde in rat liver, are discussed.