Detection by antihapten antibodies of liver-bound compounds related to azocarcinogens or their metabolites.

The localization of known azocarcinogens and metabolites such as p-aminoazobenzene and N-methyl-p-aminoazobenzene bound to components of liver cells of rats fed single or multiple doses of 3'-methyl-p-dimethylaminoazobenzene has been determined with the use of antibodies raised against p'-azo-p-aminoazobenzene and p'-azo-N-monomethyl-p-aminoazobenzene in the indirect fluorescent antibody procedure. These 2 antisera reacted with liver cells of rats fed 3'-methyl-p-dimethylaminoazobenzene, p'-amino-p-aminoazobenzene, p'-amino-N-monomethyl-p-aminoazobenzene and N-methyl-p-aminoazobenzene. The results obtained in this study suggest that both major and minor metabolites of azocarcinogens have common antigenic determinants.