Inhibition of glutathione S-transferase P type-positive foci development by linolic acid hydroperoxides and their secondary oxidative products in a rat in vivo mid-term test for liver carcinogens.

The effects of linolic acid hydroperoxides (product A) and secondary oxidative products of product A (product B), were examined in an in vivo mid-term test for hepatocarcinogens or hepatopromoters in rats. The number of placental type of glutathione S-transferase (GST-P)-positive foci of the liver was significantly reduced in rats given diethylnitrosamine (DEN) followed by products A (4.64 +/- 1.09, P less than 0.05) or B (3.62 +/- 1.65, P less than 0.01) as compared to the controls given carcinogen alone (6.31 +/- 2.82). The area of GST-P positive foci was also significantly reduced in rats given DEN followed by product B (0.30 +/- 0.21, P less than 0.05) as compared to the controls (0.47 +/- 0.23). These results suggest that linolic acid hydroperoxides or their secondary oxidative products are not hepatocarcinogens and rather may possess inhibitory potential for liver carcinogenesis.