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We have studied the induction of rat liver γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) mRNA by the antioxidant ethoxyquin and during aflatoxin B-induced carcinogenesis. Using a rat kidney GGT cDNA probe, Northern blot analysis revealed that GGT mRNA induced in liver by either compounds was slightly larger than that found in untreated kidney. GGT mRNA was not detected in untreated liver or freshly isolated hepatocytes, but induction of the message in treated tissues correlated with the increase in enzymic activity observed by histochemistry and quantitative assay. Slot-blot analysis of poly(A) mRNA indicated that constitutive GGT mRNA levels in kidney were at least 5-fold greater than those in the most GGT-positive liver-derived tissue examined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]