title: A study of tobacco carcinogenesis XLIV. Bioassay in A/J mice of some N-nitrosamines.
abstract: The evaluation of the tumorigenic activity in A/J mouse lung of certain tobacco N-nitrosamines, namely 3-(methylnitrosamino)propionic acid (NMPA), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)-butyric acid (iso-NNAC), had the following results (total dose in micromol per mouse/lung tumors per mouse): NMPA (200/7.1 +/- 2.9); NNK (2/15.7 +/- 4.1); iso-NNAC (200/0.24 +/- 0.43); saline control (0.2 +/- 0.4). The tumorigenic activity of NMPA was not surprising since its lower homologue, N-nitrososarcosine, as well as its higher homologue, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-butyric acid, are known carcinogens. The high tumorigenic activity of NNK in strain A/J mice confirms earlier findings as to its carcinogenic potency in rats and hamsters. The lack of tumorigenic activity of iso-NNAC supports the observation that the pyridyl rest adjacent to the nitrosamino group inhibits the activity of some tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA). Iso-NNAC is most likely formed endogenously from the nicotine metabolites cotinine and 4-(methylamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid.
authors.affiliation: American Health Foundation, Valhalla, New York 10595.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivenson
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D009602:Nitrosamines; C016583:4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone