Cholangiocellular carcinomas induced in Syrian golden hamsters administered aflatoxin B1 in large doses

The hepatocarcinogenicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was compared in male Syrian golden hamsters and inbred F344 rats. AFB1 was administered by gavage 5 days/week for 6 weeks at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight/day to rats and hamsters, respectively; rate did not survive beyond 3 weeks with doses of 2 mg/kg/day. After 6 weeks the animals either received no further treatment or were given 0.1% phenobarbital sodium in the drinking water. ATPase-deficient foci of hepatic parenchymal cells, neoplastic nodules, and hepatocellular carcinomas were observed in liver sections from AFB1-treated rats killed at 6, 14, or 23 weeks; they were not seen in sections from AFB1-treated hamsters killed at 6, 14, or 46 weeks. Each of the 50 AFB1-treated rats developed hepatocellular carcinomas by 46 weeks; many also had cholangiocarcinomas and mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocellular carcinomas. Hepatocellular carcinomas were found in only 2 of 49 AFB1-treated hamsters by 78 weeks. At this time cholangiocarcinomas were found in 15 hamsters, and microscopic cholangiomas were seen in all of the livers. Compared to the rat, the hamster was resistant to the hepatotoxic and hepatocellular carcinogenic effects of AFB1.