Effect of dimethylnitrosamine on the concentration of polyamines in rat liver and kidney.

Newborn female rats were injected once with dimethylnitrosamine. The polyamine content of the liver and kidneys was measured and compared to the respective controls. Both liver and kidney polyamine concentrations were found to decrease in both organs up to one month of age. The polyamine concentrations then increased in the carcinogen treated animals, whereas the control levels remained unchanged. The concentration of polyamines was greater in the left kidney than in the right one. A close correlation was found between the concentration of polyamines and histological findings during tumour development.