Aflatoxin B1 induced hepatocarcinogenesis in neonatal rats

Role of cell replication on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced hepatocarcinogenesis was investigated in neonatal rats showing persistence of cell replication in the liver for 21 days of post natal life. Adult (8-10 weeks old) rats displaying no hepatocytic proliferation served as controls. Three doses of AFB1 were administered to both the groups at intervals of 48 hr with the doses starting on 10th day of age in the neonatal group. Appearance of phenotypically altered preneoplastic hepatocytes was quantitated in both the groups. A significantly higher incidence of preneoplastic foci was recorded in neonatal rats as compared to adult animals. The results suggest that presence of cell replication in neonatal rats at the time of AFB1 administration enhances the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.