Reactions of N-methyl-N-nitrosobenzylamine and related substrates with enzyme-containing cell fractions isolated from various organs of rats and mice.

Incubation of the following N-nitroso compounds with microsomes from mouse liver and an NADPH-generating system formed the products stated: benzaldehyde from N-methyl-N-nitrosobenzylamine (MNBA), acetone and formaldehyde from N-methyl-N-nitroso-(alpha-phenyl)-ethylamine (MNPE) and formaldehyde from N-methyl-N-nitroso-(2-phenyl)-isopropylamine (MNPI). Enzymes isolated from mouse liver showed more activity towards MNBA by comparison with rat liver preparations. Microsomes from the organs of female rats showed decreasing activity in the following sequence: esophagus greater than forestomach greater than liver and for female mice: liver greater than forestomach.