Inhibition of oxygen uptake in liver slices of three mammalian species (rat, rabbit, guinea-pig) by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).

Oxygen uptake in liver slices of rats, rabbits and guinea pigs were determined manometrically in the presence of different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). AFB1 inhibited oxygen uptake at all concentrations of AFB1 tested (3.2 microM, 16.0 microM, 48.1 microM, 64.1 microM, 80.0 microM, 112.2 microM). Inhibition was directly proportional to the concentration of AFB1 inducing the inhibition. The degree of inhibition of oxygen uptake in the 3 mammalian species seems to correlate with their respective susceptibilities to AFB1 toxicity. The highest inhibition was in guinea pig and the least in rat; that in the rabbit was intermediate between rat and guinea pig.