Enhanced metabolism and mutagenesis of nitrosopyrrolidine in liver fractions isolated from chronic ethanol-consuming hamsters

G. David McCoy, Chi hong B. Chen, Stephen S. Hecht, Elena C. McCoy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the ability of isolated liver fractions to metabolize the carcinogen N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPY) was examined. Microsomal fractions of treated animals exhibited increased rates of a-hydroxylation of NPY. Similar increases in the specific activities of aniline hydroxylase, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate cytochrome c reductase, and the specific content of cytochrome P-450 were also observed. In contrast, no differences in the specific activities of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase or glucose-6-phosphatase were observed. Liver postmitochondrial supernatants from ethanol-consuming animals were able to produce 5 times more mutants than did control preparations. It is concluded that α-hydroxylation of NPY is probably the mechanism by which NPY is converted to a mutagen and that this pathway can be induced by ethanol.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)793-796
Number of pages4
JournalCancer Research
Volume39
Issue number3
StatePublished - Mar 1 1979

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Enhanced metabolism and mutagenesis of nitrosopyrrolidine in liver fractions isolated from chronic ethanol-consuming hamsters'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this