QUANTITATIVE MICROSCOPY OF HEPATIC-CHANGES INDUCED BY PHENETHYL ISOTHIOCYANATE IN FISCHER-344 RATS FED EITHER A CEREAL-BASED DIET OR A PURIFIED DIET

Hepatic changes induced by phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in the liv er of rats were determined by quantitative microscopy. Groups of male Fischer-344 rats were fed either a standard, cereal-based diet (Wayne rodent meal) or a purified diet (AIN-76A) containing PEITC at concentr ations of 0.75 and 6.0 mmol/kg for 13 wk. Severe hepatic lipidosis was observed in control rats fed the purified diet. Addition of PEITC to the purified diet significantly reduced lipid content in hepatocytes. In contrast, lipid content in the liver of the rats fed the cereal-bas ed diet containing PEITC was greater than in control rats maintained o n the same diet. In addition, dose-related reductions in hepatocyte, l ipid droplet, peroxisome, and mitochondrial volumes were observed in P EITC-treated rats fed the cereal-based diet. These results indicate th at PEITC exerts differential effects on the liver of rats fed either t he cereal-based or purified diet.