Salivary levels of N-nitrosamines and some metabolites after IP injection of N-nitrosamines in rats.

The carcinogens N-nitrosodimethylamine (DMN) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) were detected in rat saliva by gas liquid chromatography or HPLC after their ip injections. Salivary levels were equal to or greater than blood levels. A fairly linear dose response in salivary levels was observed in the range of 1-50 mg/kg. Salivary levels of DMN and DEN decreased between 0.5 and 1.0 hr after administration with the decrease becoming more prominent at lower doses. Formaldehyde and bicarbonate, metabolites of DMN, were also detected in rat saliva.