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PubMed1975

Carcinogenicity of nitrosation products of ephedrine, sarcosine, folic acid, and creatinine.

Carcinogenic activity of several synthetic N-nitroso compounds was evaluated in C57BL/6J X C3HeB/FeJ F1 mice. Test substances, suspended in trioctanoin, were injected i.p. in three equal doses given on Days 1, 4, and 7 after birth and animals were held without further treatment for up to 85 weeks. Nitrosoephedrine at a total dose of 600 mg/kg induced metastasizing liver cell carcinomas in 28 of 30 animals. Nitrososarcosine (225 mg/kg) induced similar tumors in 8 of 14 animals. Nitrosofolic acid (375 mg/kg) induced lung adenocarcinomas in 4 of 28 mice. Creatinine-5-oxime (600 mg/kg) showed no evidence of carcinogenic activity. Diethylnitrosamine (12 mg/kg given in four doses), included as a positive control, caused metastasizing liver cell tumors in 23 of 25 animals.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMed1990

Rat liver DT-diaphorase as a nitroso-reductase.

Reduction of several nitroso-compounds by purified DT-diaphorase from rat liver cytosol was investigated. Among nitroso-compounds tested, 1-nitroso-2-naphthol and p-nitrosophenol were reduced in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) at rates much faster than that of nitrosobenzene. On the contrary, none of the N-nitroso-compounds tested was reduced by this enzyme. Experiments on the identification of reduction products and on the inhibition with dicoumarol and the antiserum indicated that DT-diaphorase catalyzes 4-electron reduction of C-nitroso-compounds and plays a major role in the reduction of these compounds by rat liver cytosol.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

A model for gastric cancer epidemiology.

It is postulated that one major subtype of gastric carcinoma ("intestinal type") is the end- result of a series of mutations and cell transformation begun in the first decade of life. The mutagen could be a nitroso compound synthesised in the upper gastrointestinal tract by the action of nitrite (i.e., from food or saliva) on naturally occurring nitrogen compounds. Under normal conditions these nitroso compounds do not reach the gastric epithelial cell, presumably because their synthesis is inhibited by antioxidants present in food or because of their inability to pass the mucous barrier. The barrier may be overcome by abrasives or irritants such as hard grains, food with high sodium-chloride concentration, or surfactants. Once the first mutation occurs, the glandular gastric epithelium is gradually changed to intestinal-type epithelium, the mucous barrier altered, and the pH elevated. Under these conditions, bacteria proliferate in the gastric cavity and facilitate the conversion of nitrates to nitrites, thereby increasing the nitrite pool and the probability of formation of mutagenic-carcinogenic nitroso compounds. This process of gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia goes on for 30 to 50 years until some of the individuals affected have the final mutation or cell transformation which allows the cell to become autonomous and invade other tissues.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1998

Biotransformation of nitroso aromatic compounds and 2-oxo acids to N-hydroxy-N-arylacylamides by thiamine-dependent enzymes in rat liver.

The formation of N-hydroxy-N-arylacylamides from nitroso aromatic compounds and 2-oxo acids was investigated using rat liver subcellular fractions. Activities were found in both mitochondria and cytosol, except for activities for phenylpyruvate and glyoxylate; the former did not produce N-hydroxy-N-phenylphenylacetamide and the latter nonenzymatically produced N-hydroxy-N-phenylformamide with nitrosobenzene (NOB). The cytosolic activity of N-hydroxy-N-phenylglycolamide formation was indicated to be due to transketolase, which utilized hydroxypyruvate as a glycolic aldehyde donor to NOB. With mitochondria, 2-oxo acids (including hydroxypyruvate) served as substrates for the biotransformation of NOB to the corresponding N-hydroxy-N-phenylacylamides. The substrate preference was 2-oxobutyrate > pyruvate > 2-oxoisovalerate > 2-oxoisocaproate > 2-oxovalerate > 2-oxo-3-methylvalerate, judging from Vmax/half-saturating concentration for mitochondria values. The half-saturating concentrations for NOB were nearly constant. The mitochondrial activity was due to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex (BCDHC). By using partially purified BCDHC, pyruvate and 2-oxobutyrate were found to be common substrates for both of the enzymes, and 2-oxoisovalerate was shown to be the most effective substrate for BCDHC. Analysis by the Taft equation indicated that the polar effects, rather than the steric effects, of the alkyl groups of 2-oxo acids are important for BCDHC-catalyzed formation of N-hydroxy-N-phenylacylamides. A positive Hammett constant obtained for the formation of N-hydroxy-N-arylisobutyramides indicates that an electron-withdrawing substituent makes the nitroso compounds susceptible to BCDHC-catalyzed biotransformation.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Down-regulation of von Hippel-Lindau protein in N-nitroso compound-induced rat non-clear cell renal tumors.

Non-clear cell rat kidney tumors, inducible by N-nitroso compounds but lacking mutations in the von Hippel--Lindau (VHL) coding sequence, were examined for other VHL alterations. Neither mutations nor DNA methylation was detected in a putative promoter region. By immunohistochemistry, however, VHL protein level was evidently reduced in six of the eight eosinophilic renal epithelial tumors and in all the ten nephroblastomas. Immunoblotting of normal kidney detected two VHL proteins of 20 and 22kDa in a 16-day-old fetal rat but only 20kDa protein in an adult rat. This is the first demonstration of VHL alteration at the protein level.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Formation of N-hydroxy-N-arylacetamides from nitroso aromatic compounds by the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Bovine, human and porcine heart mitochondria and isolated porcine heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) pyruvate-dependently form N-hydroxy-N-arylacetamides from nitroso aromatic compounds, including carcinogenic 4-biphenyl and 2-fluorenyl derivatives. The PDHC-catalysed formation of N-hydroxyacetanilide (N-OH-AA) from nitrosobenzene (NOB), through a Ping Pong mechanism, is optimum at pH 6.8 and is accelerated by thiamin pyrophosphate, but is inhibited by thiamin thiazolone pyrophosphate and ATP. Km pyruvate in the reaction is independent of pH over the range tested, whereas KmNOB increases at lower pH, owing to ionization of an active-site functional group of pKa 6.3. The enzymic ionization decreases log (Vmax/KmNOB). Isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), a constitutive enzyme of PDHC, forms N-OH-AA by itself and has comparable kinetic parameters to those of the PDHC-catalysed N-OH-AA formation. The catalytic efficiency of PDHC in the formation of N-hydroxy-N-arylacylamides, due to the steric limitation of the active site of E1, is lowered both by bulky alkyl groups of alpha-oxo acids and by p-substituents (but not an o-substituent) on nitrosobenzenes. These nitroso compounds serve as electrophiles in the reaction in which the reductive acetylation step is rate-limiting. The reaction mechanism and other factors affecting N-hydroxy-N-arylacylamide formation are discussed.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1982

Association of bacteriuria and urinary nitrosamine formation with Schistosoma haematobium infection in the Qalyub area of Egypt.

In Egypt, bladder cancer incidence is high in areas where the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection is also high. Experimental evidence shows bladder carcinogenesis to be a multi-stage process which can be accelerated by many factors. N-nitroso compounds, some of which are known bladder carcinogens, can be formed from amine precursors and nitrate in urine during some bacterial infections. In experimental animals the growth of nitrosamine-induced urothelial cancers is accelerated by damage to the urothelium caused by S. haematobium infections, and by analogy in man this could account for the lower peak age of incidence of this cancer in Egypt by comparison with Europe. The present study was designed to investigate whether bacterial infection of the urinary tract was common in areas of endemic schistosomiasis and whether N-nitrosamines were regularly found to be associated with bacteriuria. Urine samples from young men in the Qalyub area of Egypt and from an adjacent Delta region were analysed for S. haematobium ova, the nature and intensity of any bacterial infection, nitrate and nitrite, and total N-nitroso compounds plus volatile N-nitrosamines. A relatively high prevalence of bacteriuria was found in young men with schistosomiasis and low levels of N-nitroso compounds were present in all specimens. When the groups were sub-divided on the basis of the ability of their bacterial flora to reduce nitrate to nitrite (the latter is required for the nitrosation of amine precursors to N-nitroso compounds), significantly higher levels of N-nitroso compounds were found in S. haematobium-infected individuals also infected with nitrate-reducing bacteria by comparison either with uninfected controls (p less than 0.0005) or with those infected with non-nitrate-reducing bacteria (p less than 0.001). The results show N-nitroso compounds to be present in the urines of young men in areas of endemic S. haematobium infection in Egypt, and elevated levels of urinary N-nitroso compounds to be associated with infection of the urinary tract by various species of nitrate-reducing bacteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Acid-mediated mutagenicity of tobacco snuff: its possible mechanism.

Polar solvent extracts of tobacco snuff under acidic conditions were mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium. Using the Griess reagent test, nitrite ranging from approximately 1.8 to 5.4 mg/g of snuff was found in the polar fraction of extracts. After acid treatment, nitroso compounds in the amount corresponding to the nitrite concentration were detected. The mutagenic potency of the acid-treated extracts was consistent with the content of nitroso compounds generated. Formation of nitroso compounds and the mutagenic activity under acidic conditions was inhibited by ascorbic acid. The results indicate that a nitrosation process was involved in snuff extracts during acid treatment. Studies related to the source of nitrite in tobacco snuff demonstrated that snuff contained bacteria which were able to reduce nitrate to nitrite and that the amount of nitrite in snuff extracts could be further increased by incubation of the extracts with the bacteria. Since snuff contains a considerable amount of nitrate, it seems that reduction of nitrate in snuff to nitrite by bacteria, and nitrosation of certain constituents in snuff by nitrite under acidic conditions to form mutagenic nitroso compounds are possible mechanisms responsible for the acid-mediated mutagenicity of snuff extracts.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed2004

Photochemical reaction mechanisms of 2-nitrobenzyl compounds: 2-nitrobenzyl alcohols form 2-nitroso hydrates by dual proton transfer.

Irradiation of 2-nitrobenzyl alcohol (1, R = H) and 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethanol (1, R = Me) in various solvents yields 2-nitroso benzaldehyde (4, R = H) and 2-nitroso acetophenone (4 R = Me), respectively, with quantum yields of about 60%. The mechanism of this reaction, known since 1918, was investigated using laser flash photolysis, time-resolved infrared spectroscopy (TRIR), and 18O-labeling experiments. The primary aci-nitro photoproducts 2 react by two competing paths. The balance between the two depends on the reaction medium. Reaction via hydrated nitroso compounds 3 formed by proton transfer prevails in aprotic solvents and in aqueous acid and base. In water, pH 3-8, the classical mechanism of cyclization to benzisoxazolidine intermediates 5, followed by ring opening to carbonyl hydrates 6, predominates. The transient intermediates 3 and 6 were identified by TRIR. Potential energy surfaces for these reactions were mapped by density functional calculations.

Benzyl Alcohols↗
PubMed1998

Formation of N-Arylacylhydroxamic Acids from Nitroso Aromatic Compounds in Isolated Spinach Leaf Cells.

The formation of N-arylacetohydroxamic acids from nitroso aromatic compounds in the presence of pyruvate was investigated using isolated spinach leaf cells. The activity was enhanced by the addition of TPP, MgSO(4), and pyruvate, requirements for pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC). Measurement of the kinetic parameters revealed that the K(m) values of nitroso aromatic compounds tested were identical and that electron-donating ring substituents decreased the catalytic efficiency. The activation energy of the formation of N-phenylacetohydroxamic acid was lower than that reported for porcine heart PDHC. With alpha-oxo acids tested, alpha-oxobutyrate served as a substrate to give the corresponding N-phenylpropionylhydroxamic acid. The activity of spinach leaf cells in N-phenylacetohydroxamic acid formation was found in both mitochondria and chloroplasts. The contribution of chloroplast PDHC to total activity in the formation of N-phenylacetohydroxamic acid was estimated to be 50% under the conditions used.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

The inhibition of bacterially mediated N-nitrosation by vitamin C: relevance to the inhibition of endogenous N-nitrosation in the achlorhydric stomach.

It has been suggested that endogenously formed N-nitroso compounds are involved in the aetiology of gastric cancer. In the model of gastric carcinogenesis postulated by Correa, gastric atrophy is an important early stage in the progression to carcinoma which results in the loss of stomach acidity, and colonization of the stomach by bacteria. As a consequence of the metabolic activity of these bacteria intragastric nitrite (a precursor to N-nitroso compounds) and possibly carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds become elevated, which may hasten the progression to carcinoma. Vitamin C has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of acid-catalysed N-nitroso compound formation, in vivo and in vitro, and this has been attributed to its relatively rapid reaction with nitrite in contrast to the slower rates of reaction of nitrite with secondary amines. However, N-nitroso compound formation in the achlorhydric stomach must proceed by mechanisms which operate at neutral pH values. One potential mechanism involves the enzymatic catalysis of N-nitrosation by a subpopulation of the bacteria colonizing the achlorhydric stomach which catalyse these reactions and in particular denitrifying organisms. In this study, we examined the effect of vitamin C on the formation of N-nitrosomorpholine from morpholine and nitrite when mediated by cells of an actively N-nitrosating denitrifying bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, BM1030) at neutral pH. Despite the fact that vitamin C ordinarily shows little reactivity towards nitrite at neutral pH it did prove to be a potent inhibitor of bacterial N-nitrosamine formation. This study provides some justification for the use of vitamin C as an inhibitor of endogenous N-nitrosation regardless of gastric pH.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1986

Food-borne amines and amides as potential precursors of endogenous carcinogens.

This paper reviews the experimental results of our research in the past several years and other related papers that have been directed toward the occurrence, biotransformation and epidemiological significance of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in biosphere. Endogenous carcinogens are a group of cancer-causing compounds produced in vivo from harmless precursors. This category has been exemplified by the well-known carcinogens, N-nitroso compounds. The significance of naturally occurring amines and amides as precursors of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in vivo and their implication in the incidence of human cancer have been investigated and emphasized. Extremely high levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide and dimethylamine were detected in squids and other seafoods. More than 90% of trimethylamine-N-oxide were converted to dimethylamine and trimethylamine on pyrolysis. Low levels of dimethylamine and methylamine were also detected in the fermented soybean products, wines and sauces. Both dimethylamine and trimethylamine are excellent precursors of dimethylnitrosamine. Several naturally occurring aromatic amines especially 2-carboline derivatives such as harman, norharman, harmaline, harmalol, harmine and harmol are mutagenic and become more mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium after nitrosation. Appreciable amounts of piperidine were detected in the popular spice white and black pepper powders. Under acidic condition, piperidine reacts readily with nitrite to form carcinogenic N-nitroso-piperidine. N-Nitrosophenacetin was formed from the reaction of nitrite with the amide drug phenacetin. This new compound showed strong mutagenicity to Salmonella typhimurium and Sarcina lutea and strong teratogenic activity to Leghorn chicken embryos. Studies have shown that the majority of N-nitroso compounds in the body come from in vivo conversion. Most investigators believe that this endogenous pool of N-nitroso compounds may prove to be a major exposure route in man. The presence of naturally occurring amines and amides in the diet then becomes one of the crucial limiting steps in the formation of endogenous N-nitroso compounds in vivo.

Amides↗
PubMed1997

Nutritional factors in the etiology of brain tumors: potential role of nitrosamines, fat, and cholesterol.

Several possible risk factors for brain tumors have been suggested in the past, including N-nitroso compounds, but with the exception of ionizing radiation, none has been consistently confirmed. The present study was aimed at assessing the influence of nutritional factors, including N-nitroso compounds, in the etiology of brain tumors, specifically gliomas and meningiomas. One hundred and thirty-nine cases with confirmed brain tumors diagnosed between 1987 and 1991 in central Israel and 278 controls matched according to age, sex, and ethnic origin were interviewed. Nutritional data were obtained using a semiquantitative food frequency approach. A significant positive association for both types of brain tumors was found with high protein intake (odds ratio (OR) = 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-3.63), while intake of sodium was inversely related to both types of brain tumors (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.31-0.87). Increased consumption of total fat and cholesterol was inversely related to gliomas (high intake of fat: OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.20-1.07; high intake of cholesterol: OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.14-1.01). However, neither fat intake nor cholesterol intake was significantly related to the risk of meningiomas. Although N-nitroso compounds were not found to be directly associated with brain tumors, the data suggested the presence of an interaction between the effects of N-nitroso compounds and protein intake and between N-nitroso compounds and cholesterol intake. The data suggest that dietary factors may play an important, though yet undefined, role in the development of brain tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Influence of ranitidine during a 24-hour period on the level of nitrites, nitrates, nitrosamines and bacterial flora in the gastric juice of healthy subjects].

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of 24 h of ranitidine treatment on gastric bacterial flora and N-nitroso compound formation. Nitrate, nitrite levels, N-nitroso compound concentration were measured and bacterial flora was studied in the fasting and postprandial gastric juice of four healthy men under placebo and ranitidine treatment (150 mg. bid). The pH of seventy-five per cent of the gastric juice samples was over 4 when the patients received their ranitidine treatment. While the mean intragastric concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, N-nitroso compounds and counts of nitrate-reducing organisms were not significantly altered by ranitidine, there was a statistically significant rise in the number of total bacteria. During ranitidine treatment, the nitrite/nitrate ratio was positively correlated with intragastric pH and with the nitrate-reducing organism count of the placebo period. These results suggest that the reduction of nitrate to nitrite required the combination of two factors: a high count of nitrate-reducing organisms before treatment and a high intragastric pH.

Adult↗
PubMed1972

Methylation of ribonucleic acid by the carcinogens dimethyl sulphate, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Comparisons of chemical analyses at the nucleoside and base levels.

1. The following methods for hydrolysis of methyl-(14)C-labelled RNA, and for chromatographic isolation and determination of the products, were investigated: enzymic digestion to nucleosides at pH6 or 8; alkaline hydrolysis and conversion into nucleosides; hydrolysis by acid to pyrimidine nucleotides and purine bases, or completely to bases; chromatography on Dowex 50 (NH(4) (+) form) at pH6 or 8.9, or on Dowex 50 (H(+) form), or on Sephadex G-10. 2. The suitability of the various methods for determination of methylation products was assessed. The principal product, 7-methylguanosine, was unstable under the conditions used for determinations of nucleosides. 3- and 7-Methyladenine and 3- and 7-methylguanine are best determined as bases; 1-methyladenine and 3-methylcytosine can be isolated as either nucleosides or bases; O(6)-methylguanine is unstable under the acid hydrolysis conditions used and can be determined as the nucleoside; 3-methyluracil was detected, but may be derived from methylation of the ionized form of uracil. 3. Differences between the patterns of methylation of RNA and homopolyribonucleotides by the N-methyl-N-nitroso compounds and dimethyl sulphate were found: the nitroso compounds were able to methylate O-6 of guanine, were relatively more reactive at N-7 of adenine and probably at N-3 of guanine, but less reactive at N-1 of adenine, N-3 of cytosine and probably at N-3 of uridine. They probably reacted more with the ribose-phosphate chain, but no products from this were identified. 4. The possible influences of these differences on biological action of the methylating agents is discussed. Nitroso compounds may differ principally in their ability to induce miscoding in the Watson-Crick sense by reaction at O-6 of guanine. Both types of agent may induce miscoding to a lesser extent through methylation at N-3 of guanine; both can methylate N atoms, presumably preventing Watson-Crick hydrogen-bonding. N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea can degrade RNA, possibly through phosphotriester formation, but this mechanism is not proven.

Adenine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The occurrence of N-nitrosocompounds [corrected] in zarda tobacco.

The levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), N-nitrosodiethanolamine, volatile and non-volatile N-nitroso compounds in zarda, a partially fermented Indian tobacco product are presented. Total identified N-nitroso compound concentrations ranged from 1.6 to 240 mg/kg fresh weight tobacco, TSNA accounted for 76-91% of the total N-nitroso compound burden. Preformed N-nitrosoethylmethylamine as well as the non-volatile compounds N-nitrososarcosine, N-nitrosoazetidine-4-carboxylic acid and N-nitrosothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid were identified for the first time in tobacco products. The high levels of N-nitroso compounds present in zarda tobacco indicate that zarda chewing communities are exposed to a considerable exogenic burden of potentially carcinogenic compounds, in particular TSNA.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed2006

New method for the synthesis of N-tert-alkoxyarylaminyl radicals.

The reactions of 2,4-diaryl-6-tert-butylnitrosobenzenes with 2,2'-azobis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)propane] (5a), 2,2'-azobis(2-cyano-4-methylpentane) (5b), and 2,2'-azobis(2-cyano-4-methyl-4-methoxypentane) (5c) in refluxing benzene gave stable N-tert-alkoxy-2,4-diaryl-6-tert-butylphenylaminyls, which were successfully isolated as radical crystals in 13-52% yields after column chromatography. The radical yields depended on the reaction time and the molar ratio of azo compounds to nitroso compounds. In the same manner, acetyl- and cyano-group-carrying N-tert-alkoxyarylaminyls were generated by the reaction of 2-phenyl-4-(4-acetylphenyl)-6-tert-butylnitrosobenzene and 2-phenyl-4-(4-cyanophenyl)-6-tert-butylnitrosobenzene with 5a and 5b, and they were isolated as radical crystals. X-ray crystallographic analyses were performed for two radicals, and their molecular structures were discussed in detail. The magnetic properties were measured for the two isolated radicals with SQUID in the temperature range 1.8-300 K. One radical showed a weak ferromagnetic interaction (theta = 0.2 K) between the radicals, and the other showed a weak antiferromagnetic interaction (theta = -3.8 K). The ferromagnetic interaction was analyzed based on the X-ray crystallographic structure.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Advances in research on DT-diaphorase--catalytic properties, regulation of activity and significance in the detoxication of foreign compounds.

DT-diaphorase [NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2] is a flavoprotein enzyme widely distributed in the cytosolic fractions of various animal tissues. It is also called menadione reductase or NAD(P)H-quinone reductase and catalyzes NAD(P)H-dependent 1-, 2- or 4-electron reduction of certain redox dyes, aromatic nitro compounds, aromatic C-nitroso compounds and probably azo-dyes, as well as menadione (vitamin K3) and other quinones. Dicumarol exerts characteristic inhibition on DT-diaphorase, whereas serum albumin and certain non-ionic detergents exert activation. Excessive concentrations of many of the electron acceptors inhibit the activity of this enzyme. The physiological significance of DT-diaphorase is still obscure because the physiological vitamins (K1 and K2) and coenzyme Q10 are difficult to reduce with this enzyme. Results of recent studies suggest that DT-diaphorase prevents formation of active oxygen species. Activities in liver and other tissues are known to be enhanced by administration of chemicals including certain carcinogens such as 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), anti-oxidants such as 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA), and other compounds. Both basal and induced activities vary considerably with tissue, sex, strain and species of animals. The strain variations in activities in rat and mouse liver are known to be inherited, and the trait of hereditary transmission can be adequately explained by postulating two loci of genes or gene clusters regulating the activity. Resistance of animals to various toxic or carcinogenic substances may be promoted by BHA administration and depressed by dicumarol administration. Thus, attention has been focused on the role played by DT-diaphorase in the detoxication of foreign compounds. Knowledge on strain variations in basal and induced activities of tissue DT-diaphorase is of potential value when choosing a rat or mouse strain suitable for studying the toxic effects of drugs, especially drugs expected to be detoxified by reductive metabolism. With future progress in research on DT-diaphorase, this enzyme might be applied to prophylactic and therapeutic medicine.

Animals↗