Table 2.
Experimental results
| Animal models | AFP detection in seruma | Cellular AFP patternb |
|---|---|---|
| Normal controls | Normal serum values | Immunohistology |
| BALB/cJ mice | 0.3–0.9 | Hepatocytes |
| C3H/He mice | 0.05–0.1 | – |
| BD X rats | <0.1 | – |
| Partial hepatectomy | Peak values at days 3–4 | Immunohistology |
| BALB/cJ mice | 120–200 | Hepatocytes |
| C3H/He mice | 20–45 | Hepatocytes |
| BD X rats | <0.1–0.8 | – |
| CCl4 intoxication | Peak values at days 3–4 | Immunohistology |
| BALB/cJ mice | 300–700 | Hepatocytes |
| C3H/He mice | 40–110 | Hepatocytes |
| BD X rats | 0.1–3.6 | Hepatocytes (few and faint) |
| GalN injury | Peak values at days 3–5 | Immunohistology |
| BD X rats | 1.4–2.8 | Mainly oval cells and biliary epithelial cells; few hepatocytes |
| Hepatocarcinogenesis | Peak values during induction | Immunohistology |
| BD X rats | BD X rats | BD X rats |
| (a) With low dose NNM feeding at all days: <0.1 | (a) With low dose NNM feeding at all days: no AFP detected | |
| (b) With high dose NNM feeding at days 21–35: 1.1–2.3 | (b) With high dose NNM feeding at days 21–35: oval cells, biliary epithelial cells and biliary epithelial cells in transition towards hepatocytes | |
| Serum AFP at carcinoma stage with wide range: <0.1 to >4,000 | At the carcinoma stage: hepato-cellular carcinoma cells in distinct nodules; other nodules may not stain for AFP |
CCl4, carbon tetrachloride; GalN, d-galactosamine; NNM, N-nitrosomorpholine.
a
Range of AFP concentrations (μg/ml) in multiple samples.
b
Cellular detection of AFP by immunohistology; no cellular AFP detected.