Elevation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in rat liver induced by feeding of butylated hydroxytoluene.

The effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity in F344 rat liver was investigated. GGT activity was significantly higher after the 1st week of BHT feeding than in control rats, and the high activity was maintained until BHT feeding was stopped. Four weeks after the cessation of an 8-week course of BHT feeding, there was no difference in liver GGT activity between control rats and BHT-treated rats. Histochemical analysis showed that GGT-positive hepatocytes appeared in periportal areas of the liver lobules in BHT-treated rats.