1,2-DIMETHYLHYDRAZINE-INDUCED METHYLATION OF DNA BASES IN VARIOUS RAT ORGANS AND THE EFFECT OF PRETREATMENT WITH DISULFIRAM

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39 (2), 465-467
Abstract
The extent and persistence of methylated purines were determined in DNA of various rat organs following a single s.c. injection of 1,2-di[14C]methylhydrazine. Maximum alkylation of purine bases occurred within 12 h, with highest concentrations in liver, followed by colon, ileum and kidney. Over a period of 3 days, O6-methylguanine was removed much more slowly from colon, the principal target organ for carcinogenesis, than from ileum or liver DNA. Dietary pretreatment of rats with disulfiram is known to prevent 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis and reduced DNA alkylation to < 1% of that detected in animals treated with 1,2-di[14C]methylhydrazine alone.