Possible enhancing effect of the immunosuppressive agent, 6-mercaptopurine(6-MP) on focal lesion development in cirrhotic liver induced by carbon tetrachloride but not furfural in F344 rats

The modifying effects of an immunosuppressive agent, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), on development of focal lesions in liver cirrhosis models induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCI 4 ) or furfural were studied in male F344 rats. Feeding of 6-MP at 50 p.p.m. for 20 weeks to animals with preexisting liver cirrhosis caused immunosuppression, and significantly enhanced the induction of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT)-positive foci and nodules in the CCp but not furfural case. Glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic lesions were not affected