Metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone by hamster respiratory tissues cultured with ellagic acid.

Previous studies have shown that the nicotine-derived N-nitrosamine-4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) induces tracheal papillomas and lung carcinomas in Syrian golden hamsters. In this study, we showed that hamster tracheal and lung explants metabolize NNK by alpha-carbon hydroxylation, pyridine N-oxidation and carbonyl reduction. alpha-Methylene hydroxylation and methyl hydroxylation yield methylating and pyridyloxobutylating intermediates, respectively.