Zurlo J, Longnecker D S, Cooney D A, Kuhlmann E T, Curphey T J
Cancer Lett. 1981 Mar;12(1-2):75-80. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(81)90040-9.
The ability of the D-isomer of azaserine to induce atypical acinar cell nodules (AACN) in pancreas and to cause DNA damage in pancreas and liver was evaluated. Rats were injected with equivalent doses of D- or L-azaserine and numbers of AACN were counted after 4 months. DNA damage in pancreas and liver of rats treated in vivo, and in pancreatic acinar cells treated in vitro with D- or L-azaserine was determined by alkaline elution. Results show that D-azaserine does not significantly induce AACN in pancreas, nor does it cause extensive DNA damage in comparison with L-azaserine, suggesting that the differential effect of the 2 isomers is related to stereospecificity in either transport or metabolism.
