Modulating influence of dehydroepiandrosterone administration on the morphology and enzyme phenotype of dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatocellular foci and nodules.

The effect o 4 weeks dietary administration of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on enzyme and morphological phenotype of focal lesions previously induced by dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) treatment was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. In contrast to the DAB-alone livers where large numbers of glycogen-storing, mixed cell nodules homogeneously positive for glutathione S-transferase P form (GST-P) were apparent, DHEA treated animals were characterized by significantly fewer, more heterogeneous lesions, in some cases demonstrating increased amphophilia and structured basophilia. The enhanced heterogeneity, in some ways reminiscent of that reported earlier for 'reversibility' or 'remodelling' of rapidly induced nodular lesions, was associated with increased catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (AP) and glucose-6- phosphatase (G6Pase) and decreased glycogen contents and phosphorylase (PHO) activity in both nodules and background parenchyma. Glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PD) activity was elevated irregularly focal lesions also demonstrating a heterogeneous reaction. The experimental data suggest two separate effects of the hormone treatment the first involving modulation of the usual altered phenotype of preneoplastic lesions with a shift towards 'tigroid' cell character and the second, similar to that reported earlier for rapidly induced nodules, involving enhanced phenotypic instability and leading to reduction in numbers.