The effect of aflatoxin B₁ on cultured hepatocytes originated from chick-embryo and rat

Abstract

The effect of aflatoxin B₁ (Af B₁) on the cultured hepatocytes originated from either chick-embryos or rats was studied. Hepatocytes originated from male adult rats (mean body weight 150 g) were most sensitive to Af B₁. In contrast, those from chick-embryos were about 1/1000 less sensitive than rat heptocytes to the mycotoxin. Microsomal fractions prepared from the livers of rats fed with PCB increased the sensitivity of chick-embryonal hepatocytes markedly. Fibroblasts isolated from 10 day-old chick-embryos were the most resistant to Af B₁. From the results of present studies it may be postulated that enzymes of cytochrom-P-450 system may play an important role also in acute cytotoxicity.