Persistence of methylated purines in the DNA of various rat fetal and maternal tissues and carcinogenesis in the offspring following a single transplacental dose of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

Formation and loss of methylated purines in DNA of various fetal and maternal tissues were measured up to 7 days following intravenous administration of N-[14C]methyl-N-nitrosourea to rats on the 21st day of gestation. Methylation products were detected in all tissues examined, the level in maternal liver being higher than in other tissues. The concentrations of 7-methylguanine and 3-methyladenine decreased faster in fetal than in corresponding maternal tissues, due to a higher rate of DNA synthesis in fetal tissues, as determined by incorporation of labelled thymidine. Removal of the promutagenic DNA lesion O6-methylguanine was most efficient in maternal and fetal liver; but it was very poorly repaired in kidney and brain. The persistence of O6-methylguanine relative to 7-methylguanine was highest in the DNA of fetal brain. The principal targets for the transplacental carcinogenic effect of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea under these experimental conditions were fetal neurogenic tissue and kidney; and malignant tumors developed at these sites in 31-34% and 15-16% of male and female descendants, respectively. These results support the concept that a complex interaction between DNA alkylation, repair and replication is the molecular basis of initiation of carcinogenesis by alkylating agents.