AFLATOXIN EXPOSURE PRODUCES SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN ELEVATIONS AND MARKED OVAL CELL-PROLIFERATION IN YOUNG MALE PEKIN DUCKLINGS

Feeding of aflatoxin to ducks produces extensive oval cell proliferati on in the liver associated with a prolonged elevation of serum alphafe toprotein (AFP), Short term feeding of 0.075-0.6 mu g/g of aflatoxin t o young male Pekin ducks results in rapid and massive dose-related pro liferation of ''oval'' cells, which extend from the portal zone across the hepatic lobule within three to five weeks. Longer term feeding of 0.15 mu g/g and 0.3 mu g/g results in prolonged elevations of serum A FP. Prolonged elevation of serum AFP serves as a marker of oval cell p roliferation preceding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. The se results confirm that ducks are sensitive to low amounts of aflatoxi n and develop early lesions that have been shown in other studies to b e associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. These findings in ducks suppor t the likelihood that aflatoxin exposure contributes to the risk for d evelopment of HCC in humans.