Dissociation of alpha-macrofetoprotein and alpha-fetoprotein production during experimental injury

The concentrations of two major fetal serum proteins of the rat, alpha-macrofetoprotein (AMF) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are measured following administration of croton oil, carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine or ethionine, and after partial hepatectomy. Greatly elevated serum concentrations of AMF are found after croton oil injection, following oral administration of CCl4, and after partial hepatectomy, but not after ethionine or galactosamine. Elevations of AFP occur after administration of hepatotoxic agents during the stage of restitutive proliferation and after exposure to the hepatocarcinogen ethionine, but not after croton oil. Therefore, elevations of AMF and AFP are clearly dissociated under certain conditions. In situations such as partial hepatectomy, after which elevations in both AMF and AFP occur, AMF appears before AFP. Therefore, the production of AMF and AFP appear to be under completely independent regulation in the adult.