Alteration of some toxic aflatoxin responses in Syrian hamsters fed zinc carbonate-supplemented diets

Summary Chronic exposure to aflatoxins (AFTs) below the LD₅₀ can result in reduced weight gain, hepatocellular necrosis and bile duct cell proliferation. Here, we report whether dietary zinc (Zn²⁺) protects against both aflatoxicosis and precancer in male weanling hamsters fed either 14.6 mg/kg AFTs, 3000 mg/kg zinc carbonate, or both for 17 weeks. The AFTs (either alone or with Zn²⁺) reduced weight gains but not feed consumption. Whereas controls possessed 172.7±21.7 mg/100 ml plasma glucose, the AFTs and Zn²⁺ groups had 132.1±19.5 and 122.7 mg/100 ml, respectively. For plasma cholesterol, the AFTs plus Zn²⁺ group's was 26.5±4.3 compared to 32.3±3.0, 31.5±4.8 and 36.0±2.1 mg/100 ml for control, Zn²⁺ and AFTs groups, respectively. The latter exhibited bile duct cell hyperplasia, focal liver necrosis and hemorrhage but the AFTs plus Zn²⁺ group's livers had less damage. Meglahepatocytes indicated precancerous changes. These data suggest a trend toward Zn²⁺-induced reduction for AFTs-promoted liver damage.