CARCINOGENIC ACTION OF GROUNDNUT MEAL CONTAINING AFLATOXIN IN RATS

The incidence of liver tumours and other neoplasms was established in male and female rats fed diets containing groundnut meal with a known content (10 ppm) of aflatoxin B1. No aflatoxin G or M had been found in this meal. Diets containing 5 ppm were fed for 1, 3, 6 and 9 wk early in life and liver-tumour incidence rose from 0 to 100%. In rats fed 0·5 or 0·1 ppm aflatoxin for their lifetime, the incidence of liver tumours in males was 100% at 0·5 ppm and 50% at 0·1 ppm and somewhat less in the corresponding female groups. Other neoplasms were also apparently induced by treatment with aflatoxin. © 1968.