Effect of varying the length of exposure to polybrominated biphenyls on the development of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase enzyme-altered foci.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) for 15 or 140 days after a 70% partial hepatectomy and diethylnitrosamine administration (10 mg/kg body weight) to determine the effect of varying the length of exposure to PBBs on the enhancement of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase enzyme-altered foci. fireMaster BP-6R, a commercial mixture of PBBs, was fed to rats at a dietary concentration of 100 mg/kg for 15 days or 10 mg/kg for 140 days during the promotion phase of a two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis assay. Results indicate that short term exposure to PBBs is as effective as long term exposure in enhancing the development of enzyme-altered foci.