Evaluation of DNA damage by alkaline elution technique after in vivo treatment with aromatic amines

The time course of DNA damage induced by in vivo administration of benzidine, 1- and 2-naphthylamine or dimethylnaphthylamine has been evaluated using an alkaline elution technique. The organs damaged by the active ultimate metabolites, produced in mice treated with aromatic amines, appear to be, in decreasing order of susceptibility, liver, kidney and lung. Single-stranded DNA breaks are still evident 12 h after a single administered dose of the compounds. A direct dose-response relationship has been obtained using increasing concentrations of aromatic amines.