Inhibitory effect of reserpine on N-2-fluorenylacetamide-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

The effect of reserpine on N-2-fluorenylacetamide (FAA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis was examined in female ACI rats. The incidence of hepatocellular altered foci (number/cm2) in rats of group 1 given FAA (0.02% in diet) and reserpine (subcutaneous injections of 1 microgram/g body weight, once a week) simultaneously for 10 weeks, and fed a basal diet for 17 weeks was significantly smaller than that of group 3 exposed to FAA alone for 10 weeks and given the basal diet for the subsequent 17 weeks (1.51 +/- 0.58 vs. 11.46 +/- 3.13, P less than 0.001). Similarly, the incidence of the foci of group 2 given reserpine for 16 weeks after discontinuation of FAA exposure for 10 weeks and a one-week interval of basal diet, was also significantly smaller than that of group 3 (1.51 +/- 0.62 vs. 11.46 +/- 3.13, P less than 0.001). No hepatocellular foci were seen in rats of group 4 given reserpine alone for 27 weeks and group 5 (untreated controls). These results indicate that reserpine has an inhibitory effect on FAA-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis.