Identification of dimethylnitrosoamine metabolites in vitro.

The incubation of dimethylnitrosoamine (DMNA) in the presence of rat liver microsomes leads to production of formaldehyde, formic acid, methylamine, and N-methylhydrazine. When pH 5-enzymes are added to the medium there is also the formation of N-methylhydroxylamide and N,N-dimethylhydrazine. The last compound is the only metabolite produced, to a lesser extent, by the pH 5-enzymes. Thus, the denitrosated or non-denitrosated metabolites are produced either by an oxidative dealkylation and by a reduction of DMNA, catalysed by microsomal and cellular soluble enzymes.