Early initiating and promoting effects in 2-AAF-induced rat liver carcinogenesis: an immunohistochemical study

2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) is a complete carcinogen in rat liver. To investigate the specific properties, that distinguish 2-AAF from incomplete carcinogens, rats were fed 0.02% AAF in the diet for 6, 12, 16 weeks and some indicators of genotoxic and chronic toxic effects were studied immunohistochemically. GST-P, a marker for single initiated cells and preneoplastic foci, was induced in response to 2-AAF exposure. The effects were slight after 6 weeks of feeding, after 12 weeks GST-P-positive preneoplastic foci were present. The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun are induced by several tumor promoters. In the present study c-FOS protein levels were increased in all 2-AAF treated animals at early stages not only in preneoplastic foci. However, all GST-P-positive foci were also c-FOS-positive. Surprisingly c-JUN was not enhanced in GST-P positive foci. It was comparatively expressed in hepatocytes and bile duct cells in all animals. We did not observe any immunolabeling for p53, either in preneoplastic foci or in hepatocytes from treated animals. A significant increase of apoptoses was noted in the whole liver lobule but also gathered in groups in the periportal area. The results support our proposal that oxidative stress and energy impairment in the mitochondria of periportal hepatocytes trigger morphological alterations in the rat liver.