Endotoxins enhance hepatocarcinogenesis induced by oral intake of thioacetamide in rats

Table 1 Hepatocyte proliferation and liver weights

Groups	n	PI	Ratio of liver weight to 100 g body weight
Sham	5	0.25 ± 0.032	4.32 ± 2.6
TAA control	6	0.33 ± 0.047	8.38 ± 2.0b
TAA + LPS	6	0.35 ± 0.045	7.35 ± 1.3b
TAA + ST	6	0.35 ± 0.077	7.40 ± 1.5b
TAA + ST + LPS	6	0.45 ± 0.039a	7.28 ± 1.5b

^aP < 0.05, vs TAA control, TAA + LPS and TAA + ST groups respectively.

^bP < 0.01, vs sham group. PI, proliferation index. Rats were treated as described in Materials and Methods.

Table 2 Endotoxemia levels and GGT activities in plasma

Groups	n	Endotoxin (EU/100 mL)	GGT (U/100 mL)
Sham	5	95 ± 15	17 ± 7
TAA control	6	108 ± 12	226 ± 33d
TAA + LPS	6	118 ± 12d	236 ± 44d
TAA + ST	6	130 ± 31d	266 ± 127d
TAA + ST + LPS	6	130 ± 18ad	442 ± 99abcd

^aP < 0.05 vs TAA control;

^bP < 0.05, vs TAA + LPS group;

^cP < 0.05, vs TAA + ST group;

^dP < 0.05, vs sham group. Rats were treated as described in Materials and Methods.

Table 3 DNA ploidy and incidence of hepatoma in various groups

Groups	n	DNA index	Rate of DNA aneuploid%	Incidence of hepatoma
				Visible		Under microscopy
				(%)	n	(%)	n
Sham	5	1.0	0	0	(0/5)	0	(0/5)
TAA control	6	1.15 ± 0.21	50	17	(1/6)	50	(3/6)
TAA + LPS	6	1.24 ± 0.25a	50	33	(2/6)	50	(3/6)
TAA + ST	6	1.44 ± 0.15ab	100	50	(3/6)	67	(4/6)
TAA + ST + LPS	6	1.56 ± 0.07abc	100	67	(4/6)	67	(4/6)

^aP < 0.02, vs TAA control group;

^bP < 0.02, vs TAA + LPS group;

^cP < 0.02, vs TAA + ST group. DNA index = mean channels of G0/1 peak in the treated rat ÷ mean channels of G0/1 peaks in the normal controls. 10⁴ cells of a rat liver were examined by flow cytometry. Rats were treated as described in Materials and Methods.