Of the carcinogenic aromatic nitrogenous compounds investigated, 10 out of 11 were found to be biotransformed in rabbit liver microsomal preparations to nitroxide radicals, as detected by ESR spectroscopy; with non-carcinogenic nitrogenous compounds only 2 out of 8 formed nitroxide radicals. 2. The radicals are stable mixed nitroxides formed by covalent binding of the aromatic nitroxide to endogenous constituents of the microsomal membrane with preservation of the nitroxide radical group (spin-trapping). 3. From the high chemical stability and the observed ESR spectra, spin-label-like structures can be deduced. 4. From this and the known one-electron redox properties of spin-labels, a redox cycle catalysing the production of reactive oxygen species and involved in tumour initiation and/or promotion by aromatic nitrogenous compounds is proposed.
