The dietary
mutagens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]
quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-
b]pyridine (
PhIP) are carcinogenic in rodents. In F344 rats
PhIP induces mammary
tumors in females and colon
tumors in males, while IQ induces
tumors principally in the liver, Zymbal gland and intestines. In CDF1 mice, IQ induces liver, lung and forestomach
tumors. We have evaluated the dynamics of formation, removal and inhibition of
PhIP- and IQ-
DNA adducts in these rodents. After bolus doses (50 mg/kg, by gavage) of IQ or
PhIP, both IQ- and
PhIP-
DNA adducts were removed rapidly from both target and nontarget organs, while after 3-4 weeks of feeding IQ or
PhIP (0.01-0.04%) adduct removal was much slower. Gavaging of male F344 rats with
PhIP (0.1-1000 micrograms/kg/day) for 23 days resulted in accumulation of
PhIP-
DNA adducts in various organs, but adducts were detectable only at 100 or 1000 micrograms/kg/day. Urinary excretion of unchanged
PhIP was a constant proportion (1.6-2.1%) of the daily dose over the entire dose range and was independent of duration of exposure. When weanling female F344 rats were exposed to dietary
PhIP (0.01-0.04%) for 1-4 weeks, the presence of either conjugated
linoleic acid (CLA; 0.1-1.0%) or
indole-3-carbinol (13C; 0.1%) in the diet inhibited
PhIP-DNA adduct formation (58-99%) in various organs, including the mammary gland and the colon. Similarly, the inclusion of 0.075%
4-ipomeanol (IPO) in the diet of male CDF1 mice exposed for 3 weeks to dietary IQ (0.01%) resulted in inhibition of
IQ-DNA adduct formation (30-59%) in the target organs (liver, lungs, stomach) but not in a number of other organs. It is concluded that (1) the rate of
PhIP- and
IQ-DNA adduct removal depends on the dose and frequency of administration, (2) urinary
PhIP may be a good biomarker of recent
PhIP exposure and (3) CLA, I3C and IPO are potential chemopreventive agents against
PhIP- or IQ-induced
tumors in rodents.