Effects of butylated hydroxyanisole on initiation of hepatopancreatic carcinogenesis in opisthorchis viverrini infected female syrian golden hamsters

Abstract

The effects of concomitant Opisthorchis viverrini infection and butylated hydroxyanisole administration on dihydroxy-di-n-propylnitrosamine (DHPN) initiation of pancreatic and liver neoplasia were investigated in female Syrian golden hamsters. Two weeks subsequent to infection with 80 metacercariae by stomach gavage administration of BHA (1%) in the diet was commenced. Four 600 mg.kg body weight doses of DHPN were then administered by incorporation at week 6 one day after the last injection of carcinogen revealed parasite infection to be associated with inflammatory and proliferative changes in the livers of infected hamsters. Carcinogen treatment caused toxicity and increased in labelling indices of hepatocytes bile duct and gallbladder epithelial cells. These lesions were reduced by the BHA treatment which was also associated with and increase in total glutathione-s-transferase activity. Comparison of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions development at week 26 revealed significant reduction in the yields of clear cell hepatocyte foci cholangiofibrotic areas and cholangiocellular carcinomas as well as carcinogen-induced pancreatic cysts and dysplastic lesions in BHA-treated animals. The antioxidant BHA thus exerted an inhibitory influence on initiation of pancreato-hepatic carcinogenesis in the hamster Opisthorchis Viverrini model suggesting a possible protective role for this type of agent in the human situation.