Exposure of Newborn Rats to Pharmacologically Active Compounds May Permanently Alter Carcinogen Metabolism

Administration of phenobarbital to mother rats during early lactation causes long-term, perhaps permanent, alteration of hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity and aflatoxin B 1 adduct formation in the adult male offspring. These findings suggest that perinatal exposure to pharmacologically active compounds may be a determinant of cancer risk.