The metabolism and cellular interactions of some aliphatic nitrogenous carcinogens.

The alkylation of nucleic acids of the liver of rats and Syrian hamsters was measured in relation to carcinogenesis by a number of nitrosamines and azoxyalkanes, most of which induce tumors of the liver in both species following chronic treatment. Two compounds, nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine and nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine were not liver carcinogens in rats, but did induce liver tumors in hamsters; there was much less alkylation by these compounds in the rat than in the hamster. In both rats and hamsters, azoxymethane produced a greater extent of alkylation, both at N-7 and O-6 guanine, than did nitrosodimethylamine, although the former is no more potent than the latter as a carcinogen in either species. Both methyl groups of azoxymethane gave rise to N-7 methylation. Nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) and nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl) (2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP) produced considerable methylation of liver nucleic acids in both species, comparable with that by nitrosodimethylamine, and they induce liver tumors in both rats and hamsters. However, in male rats the extent of alkylation by BOP was much smaller than in females and no O-6-methylation was detected in the former; this correlates with the failure of BOP to induce liver tumors in male rats by gavage, whereas liver tumors are induced in females.