Positive foci of glutathione S-transferase placental form in the liver of rats given furfural by oral administration.

We observed GST-P-positive liver foci in rats during the course of developing liver cirrhosis by oral administration of furfural, an organic solvent. Male Wistar rats were given furfural-containing diet (20-30 mg/kg diet) for 15-150 days, and killed 14 days after terminating furfural feeding. Immunohistochemical investigation of GST-P-positive liver foci which appeared in rats fed furfural for more than 30 days revealed an increase in number and size of the foci in proportion to the duration of furfural administration. Since furfural is known not to be carcinogenic in rats, this finding will be helpful to understand the enhancing effect of furfural-induced cirrhosis on chemical hepatocarcinogenesis.