Induction of histone acetylation in rat liver and hepatoma by organosulfurcompounds including diallyl disulfide

In previous studies, diallyl disulfide induced histone acetylation and diff erentiation in DS19 mouse erythroleukemic cells. In the present work the po tential induction of histone acetylation in tumor-bearing rats was examined . Increased acetylation of histones in liver and Morris hepatoma 7777 was i nduced by treatment of rats with diallyl disulfide (200 mg/kg body weight), allyl mercaptan (100 mg/kg body weight) and butanethiol (100 mg/kg body we ight). The level of histone acetylation was greater in liver than in the he patoma and the response to the organosulfur compounds tended to be less in the tumor. The data suggested that compounds in garlic or their metabolites may increase the acetylation of core nucleosomal histones and thereby favo r cell differentiation.