Liver NADPH-dependent oxidation of the 5-nitrofurans, FANFT and ANFT, by guinea pig and rat.

ABSTRACT

1. Oxidative metabolism of the bladder carcinogens FANFT/ANFT was examined in vitro in guinea pig (resistant species) relative to rat (susceptible species). 2. The total rate of ANFT hepatic metabolism by guinea pig (soluble metabolites plus protein bound, 354 pmol/min per mg protein) was approx. 4 times that in rat. 3. The total rate of FANFT metabolism was similar in both species and approx. one-quarter that for ANFT in guinea pig. In rat, the rate of total metabolism of FANFT and ANFT was similar. 4. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors, 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxyethylamine, 7,8-benzoflavone, and n-octylamine largely inhibited metabolism in guinea pig, but had little effect in rat. 5. H.p.l.c. analysis of ANFT metabolites indicated distinctly different products in guinea pig compared to rat. 7,8-Benzoflavone decreased metabolite formation by 80% in guinea pig, but only 30% in rat. 6. Flavin-dependent monooxygenases may participate in metabolism of these carcinogens in rat, but not guinea pig. 7. Because ANFT is thought to be a more proximate carcinogen than FANFT, the increased rate of ANFT metabolism and the formation of different products in guinea pig compared to rat may partially explain the resistance of guinea pig to FANFT-induced bladder cancer.