title: gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase and alpha-fetoprotein expression during alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: Continuous feeding of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate to young male Sprague-Dawley rats was shown to produce a concentration-dependent increase in the number of hepatic ductular cells and a concentration- and time-dependent elevation of serum and liver gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alpha-fetoprotein. In liver, the increased gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alpha-fetoprotein were predominantly confined to the proliferative ductular cell population. It is concluded that early stages of intoxication by the noncarcinogen alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate resemble early stages in induction of liver neoplasia by carcinogens that evoke ductular proliferation. Elevation of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alpha-fetoprotein expression by an expanding ductular cell population characterizes both processes. However, the increase is rapidly reversed after alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate is discontinued, in contrast to the persistence that has been reported when acetylaminofluorene was administered.
mesh_terms: D015058:1-Naphthylisothiocyanate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011503:Transglutaminases; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D013861:Thiocyanates; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D015058:1-Naphthylisothiocyanate; D000217:Acyltransferases; D011503:Transglutaminases