Labeling in cells of the nasal cavity of hamsters treated with tritiated N-nitrosodiethylamine.

Syrian golden hamsters were given a single dose of N-[3H]nitrosodiethylamine ([3H]DEN) by gavage. One hour later the animals were killed and their nasal cavities processed for high resolution light microscopic autoradiography for detection of bound radioactivity. The atrioturbinals, which are lined by squamous epithelium, were unlabeled. In the respiratory portion of the nose (nasal septum, naso- and maxilloturbinals) most bound radioactivity was concentrated in the mucous cells of the respiratory epithelium and the secretory cells of submucous glands). In the olfactory region (ecto and endoturbinals) most bound radioactivity was restricted to the secretory cells of submucous glands, while in the olfactory epithelium only the sustentacular cells were slightly labeled.