Early influence of aflatoxin B1 on the functional state of isolated rat hepatocytes.

The early effects (60 min) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on membrane permeability and carbohydrate metabolism of liver cells were studied in fresh suspensions of rat hepatocytes. Evaluation by trypan blue exclusion, enzyme leakage, glycogen synthesis or degradation, and glyconeogenesis were chosen as viability tests. The results obtained showed an increase of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (GPT) and aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) released into the medium and also an increase in the number of stained cells. These changes were significant at about 18 nmol/10(6) cells of AFB1, while a remarkable effect of the toxin on glyconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis or degradation was observed at 9 nmol/10(6) cells, doses commonly used for in vitro studies.