The fate of altered hepatocytic foci as a result of treatment with oxodipine, a calcium channel blocker.

The dietary administration of the calcium channel blocker oxodipine to Fischer (F344) rats for 12 and 30 months resulted in increased incidence of altered hepatocytic foci (AHF). As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regards AHF as potentially precancerous it is important to accumulate experimental evidence which may negate this theory. In the case of oxodipine we proved that with dosages close to maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for prolonged periods no hepatic neoplasms were produced. The possible nature of such AHF is discussed.