Microsomal biphenyl 2-hydroxylation in the presence of some carcinogenic alkylaryltriazenes

A hepatic mixed-function oxygenase system gave enhanced biphenyl 2-hydroxylation in the presence of known carcinogens in vitro and was therefore suggested as a convenient short-term assay for the detection of potentially dangerous compounds. However, the test did not yield the expected increase of biphenyl 2-hydroxylation with any of 8 selected carcinogenic triazenes. The new data are discussed in relation to the original supposition and to the hydroxylation pattern of various triazene substrates in vivo.