Effects of selenium and retinoic acid on the metabolism of N-acetylaminofluorene and N-hydroxyacetylamino-fluorene.

Male albino rats were given 4 ppm selenium (Se(as Na2SeO3) in the water, or 0.25% retinoic acid was added to the basal diet for 3 days. Control and treated animals were given 17 mg acetylaminofluorene (AAF)-9-14C or N-hydroxyacetylaminofluorene (NOHAAF)-9-14C/kg body wt. The administration of Se enhanced glucuronyl transferase activity by 100% and inhibited p-nitrophenol-sulfotransferase by 50%. Retinoic acid enhanced the glucuronyl transferase 37% and inhibited the p-nitrophenol-sulfotransferase by 50%. Pretreatment with Se lowered levels of both AAF and NOHAAF in liver tissue by 30%. Se administration lowered the binding of the labeled carcinogens, or metabolites thereof, to the liver DNA and tRNA.