Interaction of Fumonisin B sub(1) and Aflatoxin B sub(1) in a Short-Term Carcinogenesis Model in Rat Liver

• Published in: Toxicology (Amsterdam) Vol. 171; no. 2; p. 161
• Main Authors: Gelderblom, WCA, Marasas, WFO, Labepe-Mazur, S, Swanevelder, S, Vessey, C J, de la M Hall, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.02.2002
• ISSN: 0300-483X

The interaction of fumonisin B sub(1) and aflatoxin B sub(1) was investigated by comparing their separate and combined effects on the cancer-initiating and -promoting phases of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. When gavage treatment was used, fumonisin B sub(1) was found to be 200 400 times less potent as a cancer initiator than aflatoxin B sub(1). Treatment of rats with either compound caused only mild toxicological effects including mitoses, apoptosis, and occasional hepatocytes with dysplastic nuclei and oval cell proliferation, but sequential treatment resulted in cirrhotic livers with numerous regenerative and dysplastic nodules encircled extensively by oval cells. Fumonisin B sub(1) increased the placental form of glutathione-S-transferase lesions to a similar extent as aflatoxin B sub(1), but when administered sequentially, the number and size of the lesions were increased significantly. The data suggested that the marked toxicity induced by aflatoxin B sub(1), evident five weeks following exposure, rendered the liver more susceptible to the cancer-initiating potency of flumonisin B sub(1) when treated after three weeks.