Metabolism and mutagenicity of aromatic amines by human fetal liver.

Human fetal liver microsomes were found to metabolize the carcinogen 2-acetylaminoflurene (AAF), the major metabolite being the deacetylated product 2-aminofluorene (AF). On the other hand, N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF), a proximate carcinogenic metabolite, could not be detected. The human fetal liver samples converted AF and N-OH-AAF, but not AAF, to products mutagenic for S. typhimurium TA 98.