Alterations of bioelectric potential in primary hepatocellular carcinomas induced by N-2-fluorenylacetamide or diethylnitrosamine.

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma(s) (PHC) induced in rats by N-2-fluorenylacetamide (AAF) or diethylnitrosamine (DEN) were examined for their bioelectric potential (EP). N-2-Fluorenylacetamide-induced PHC differed from age-matched normal livers by a mean of -12.9, which is significant at p less than 0.001. They also differed from non-PHC-bearing surrounding liver by -4.75 mV, significant at p less than 0.05. Diethylnitrosamine-induced PHC differed from normal liver by -13.5 mV and from background liver by -9.95 mV, both significant at p less than 0.001. To determine the contribution of cell division to these differences, regenerating livers were examined. The levels of mixed function oxidases in PHC and in regenerating livers reported in the literature appeared to correlate with the measured EP. We, therefore, studied the effects of chemical inhibitors and an inducer of this enzyme system. The alterations of mixed function oxidase were demonstrated to parallel those of EP.