Beta-oxidation of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in different animal species in vitro and in vivo.

The metabolism of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) was studied to assess whether the formation of the beta-oxidized metabolites, N-nitroso(2-hydroxyethyl) (formylmethyl)amine (NHEFMA) and N-nitroso(2-hydroxyethyl)(carboxymethyl)amine (NHECMA), is involved in tumour induction in various animal species with different susceptibilities to NDELA carcinogenicity. In-vitro and in-vivo studies showed that all the animal species considered metabolize NDELA through the beta-oxidation pathway, suggesting that there is no correlation between carcinogenesis by NDELA and its beta-oxidation.