Studies on the tissue-disposition and fate of N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea in mice. 1979

E Johansson-Brittebo, and H Tjälve

The tissue-disposition and fate of N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea has been studied in mice. A large part of the injected N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea radioactivity was found to be exhaled as 14CO2. Whole-body autoradiography showed evenly distributed radioactivity in most tissues shortly after the administration of N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea which probably is due to the homogeneously distributed substance and the non-enzymatically formed ethyl-carbonium ions which have reacted with the tissues. The blood-brain barrier seemed to have a capacity to partially prevent the uptake of the substance in the central nervous system. A high radioactivity was observed in the liver, which may imply that N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea is enzymatically decomposed in this tissue. An observed labelling of kidneys may be connected with urinary excretion of radioactivity. The radioactivity in the liver and kidney decreased at later survival intervals and a distribution pattern appeared, which was characterized by a labelling of tissues with a high protein or steroid synthesis and of fat containing tissues. The distribution pattern corresponded to the one seen after the administration of [14C]acetaldehyde and is probably due to normal biosynthetic incorporation of radioactivity in the 2-carbon pool. Pretreatments with pyrazole, nialamide and diethyldithiocarbamate caused a marked inhibition of the exhalation of 14CO2 and of the incorporation of radioactivity in the liver. This effect may be directed towards the decomposition of N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea itself, but an effect on the metabolism of formed 2-carbon fragments is also possible. The incorporation of radioactivity in other tissues was not influenced by the pretreatments.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008810 Mice, Inbred C57BL One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases. Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D009526 Nialamide An MAO inhibitor that is used as an antidepressive agent.
D009607 Nitrosourea Compounds A class of compounds in which the core molecule is R-NO, where R is UREA. Compounds, Nitrosourea
D011720 Pyrazoles Azoles of two nitrogens at the 1,2 positions, next to each other, in contrast with IMIDAZOLES in which they are at the 1,3 positions.
D002245 Carbon Dioxide A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals. Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D004050 Ditiocarb A chelating agent that has been used to mobilize toxic metals from the tissues of humans and experimental animals. It is the main metabolite of DISULFIRAM. Diethyldithiocarbamate,Diethylcarbamodithioic Acid,Diethyldithiocarbamic Acid,Dithiocarb,Ditiocarb Sodium,Ditiocarb, Ammonium Salt,Ditiocarb, Bismuth Salt,Ditiocarb, Lead Salt,Ditiocarb, Potassium Salt,Ditiocarb, Sodium Salt,Ditiocarb, Sodium Salt, Trihydrate,Ditiocarb, Tin(4+) Salt,Ditiocarb, Zinc Salt,Imuthiol,Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate,Thiocarb,Zinc Diethyldithiocarbamate,Ammonium Salt Ditiocarb,Bismuth Salt Ditiocarb,Diethyldithiocarbamate, Sodium,Diethyldithiocarbamate, Zinc,Lead Salt Ditiocarb,Potassium Salt Ditiocarb,Sodium Salt Ditiocarb,Sodium, Ditiocarb,Zinc Salt Ditiocarb
D005038 Ethylnitrosourea A nitrosourea compound with alkylating, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties. Nitrosoethylurea,N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea,N Ethyl N nitrosourea
D000079 Acetaldehyde A colorless, flammable liquid used in the manufacture of acetic acid, perfumes, and flavors. It is also an intermediate in the metabolism of alcohol. It has a general narcotic action and also causes irritation of mucous membranes. Large doses may cause death from respiratory paralysis. Ethanal
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001711 Biotransformation The chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system. The alteration may inactivate the compound or it may result in the production of an active metabolite of an inactive parent compound. The alterations may be divided into METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE I and METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE II.

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