Hepatocarcinogenesis in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) exposed to methylazoxymethanol acetate.

To assess the potential of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) for the detection of environmental carcinogens, laboratory-reared specimens were exposed to methylazoxymethanol acetate 10 mg per 1 for 2 h and then examined periodically for the onset of neoplastic lesions. Approximately 33 per cent of the exposed fish developed liver neoplasms within 25 weeks of exposure and 52 per cent within 40 weeks. The lesions were mostly hepatocellular carcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas. No neoplastic lesions were detected in other organs. The carcinogen sensitivity and the widespread distribution of the mosquitofish suggest that this species would be useful as a warm water sentinel for environmental contamination.