Biochemical studies of six nitrogen-containing heterocycles in rat tissues.

Female rats were dosed orally with one-fifth the LD50 of either 1-nitrosopiperidine (a carcinogen), cyclohexylamine, piperidine, 4-carboxy-1-nitrosopiperidine, 4-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosopiperidine or 2,6-dimethyl-1-nitrosopiperidine at 21 and 4 hr before they were killed. The five noncarcinogenic compounds had no effects on any experimental variables examined [hepatic DNA damage, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, serum alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) activity, cytochrome P-450 and glutathione content]. After administration of 40 mg/kg of 1-nitrosopiperidine, marked hepatic DNA damage and a 3- to 7-fold increase in the activity of hepatic ODC were observed. 1-Nitrosopiperidine (120 mg/kg, 3/5 LD50) caused DNA damage in rat liver and esophagus but not in leukocytes. This higher dose of 1-nitrosopiperidine also increased hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity by 9-fold. Thus, this hepatic biochemical assay system correctly identified the one carcinogen and the five noncarcinogens in this series of six nitrogen-containing heterocycles.