Development of rat liver and colon substrate cycle enzymes in offspring with and without prenatal exposure to a carcinogenic dose of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.

Pregnant F-344 rats were exposed by intubation to a single dose (35 mg/kg) of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride or to an acetate buffer on day 14 of gestation. A detailed examination of the effects of this dose of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine on brush border enzymes in the offspring was performed. Changes in the liver and colon levels of the alpha-glycerophosphate and malate/aspartate substrate cycle enzymes were measured during the development; at days 17 and 20 of gestation and at 2, 6, 13, 20, 27, 55, 110 days and 1 year after birth. It is concluded that metabolic energy enzymes, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and malate dehydrogenase, are more sensitive to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine treatment than are the brush border hydrolases or NAD- and Fp-linked alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenases.