Genetic differences in dimethylnitrosamine mutagenicity in vitro associated with mouse hepatic aryl hydrocarbon...

The effects of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) pretreatment on metabolism and mutagenic activation of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) were studied with liver subfractions from two strains of mice differing genetically with respect to aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness. Both mutagenic activation and DMN N-demethylase activity segregated with aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase activity as a dominant trait in appropriate crosses between C57BL/6J (Ahb Ahb) and DBA/2J (Ahd Ahd) mice. DMN metabolism and mutagenicity were increased by MC-pretreatment in responsive Ahb Ahb and Ahb Ahd mice, but not in non-responsive Ahd Ahd mice. This indicates the involvement of the Ah locus in the genetic regulation of these activities in mice. Deuteration of DMN reduced mutagenicity and DMN N-demethylase activity by approximately 90 and 50 percent, respectively.