Influence of disulfiram on the metabolism of N-nitrosodiethylamine.

The effect of disulfiram (DSF) on the biological activity of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) was studied in vivo. We determined its influence on NDEA level, on NDEA-induced DNA damage and on DNA alkylation in the liver and oesophagus. It was found that 500 mg/kg DSF given 2 h before a single dose of 28 mg/kg NDEA inhibited the metabolism and increased the concentrations of NDEA in the organs, especially in the oesophagus. Consequently, DNA damage and the alkylation of DNA are inhibited in both the liver and the oesophagus.