Hepatocarcinogenicity of glandless cottonseeds and cottonseed oil to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) [Food toxicity aspects]

Glandless cottonseed kernels are available for purchase and consumption by the general public. These kernels contain no gossypol but still have a full complement of naturally occurring cyclopropenoid fatty acids, which in rainbow trout are active as synergists with aflatoxins and primary liver carcinogens. Diets containing glandless cottonseed kernels or a lightly processed cottonseed oil produced significant numbers of hepatocellular carcinomas in rainbow trout after 1 year. The much greater incidence of cancer induced by the kernel than by the oil indicates that synergists or other carcinogens may be present in the kernel in addition to the cyclopropenoid fatty acids.