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Altered Cobalamin Distribution in Rat Hepatomas and in the Livers of Rats Treated with Diethylnitrosamine¹

Department of Experimental Chemical Pathology, The Vincent Square Laboratories of Westminster Hospital, London, SW1V, 2RH, United Kingdom [J. C. L., E. V. Q., D. M. M.]; Department of Biochemistry, Howard University, Washington, D. C. 20059 [H. P. M.]; and Nutrition and Metabolism Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014 [L. A. P.]

The distribution of cobalamin cofactors was investigated in the livers and tumors of rats bearing transplanted Morris 7777 or 7800 hepatomas, in the livers of rats treated with the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine, and in normal rats. There was a significant increase in the proportion of methylcobalamin both in livers and tumors from rats bearing the hepatomas 7777 and 7800 compared to the proportion of methylcobalamin in the livers of normal rats. The total cobalamin content of the hepatomas was significantly lower than that of host or control livers. Similarly, the total cobalamin content of the livers from the tumor-bearing rats was less than that in control animals.

The administration to rats of an acute dose of diethylnitrosamine led to an 84% increase in the hepatic concentration of methylcobalamin. Chronic administration of diethylnitrosamine slightly increased the hepatic methylcobalamin concentration, but this was not statistically significant. Liver weight was reduced, and the hepatic content of total cobalamin fell to 55% of that in control animals.

¹ Supported by a grant from the Wellcome Trust and by USPHS Grant CA 10729.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

³ Recipient of a Commonwealth Tropical Medicine Award from the Ministry of Overseas Development.

Received 11/ 8/76. Accepted 6/ 3/77.