DNA-adduct formation in the forestomach of rats treated with 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and its metabolites as assessed by an enzymatic 32P-postlabeling method.

Formation of DNA-adducts by 3-BHA or its metabolites, i.e., tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (TBQ) and 5-methoxy-3-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (3-TBOQ), as well as DNA-adduct formation by 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO), in rat forestomach were examined by an enzymatic 32P-postlabeling assay. Four DNA-adducts were clearly detected in the forestomach after treatment of rats with 4NQO. The sensitivity was 1.9 certain adducts per 10(8) normal nucleotides. On the contrary, no DNA adducts were detected in the forestomach of rats given either a single or repeated oral administration (5 days) of 3-BHA, TBQ or 3-TBOQ. The analyses were carried out under conditions which could detect the DNA-adducts produced by reaction of TBQ with calf thymus DNA in vitro. The results suggest that formation of aromatic adducts in vivo by 3-BHA, TBQ or 3-TBOQ in the rat forestomach-DNA is not evident or at least below the detection limits of the current bioassay.