Effect of ovariectomy on the in vitro and in vivo activation of carcinogenic N-2-fluorenylhydroxamic acids by rat mammary gland and liver.

N-Hydroxy-N-2-fluorenylacetamide (N-OH-2-FAA) and its benzamide analogue N-OH-2-FBA are mammary gland carcinogens in the female Sprague-Dawley rat. Ovariectomy inhibits tumorigenicity of topically applied N-OH-2-FAA suggesting modulation of carcinogen-activating enzymes in the gland. This study concerned the activation of N-OH-2-FAA and N-OH-2-FBA by the mammary gland and liver, a chief site of metabolism, from 50-day-old female rats and effects on the activation of ovariectomy performed at 22 days of age. The levels of N-debenzolyation of N-OH-2-FBA to N-hydroxy-N-2-fluorenamine (N-OH-2-FA), catalyzed by microsomal carboxylesterases in mammary gland and liver were similar and increased 1.5- and 1.7-fold, respectively, by ovariectomy. N-Debenzoylating activity in cytosols of both tissues appeared to be partially of microsomal origin. Mammary gland cytosol contained N-, O- and N,O-acyltransferase activities at levels 40-50% those of liver. N-Acyltransferase activity was determined via acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA)-dependent acetylation of 2-FA and a new assay, N-OH-2-FAA-dependent acetylation of 9-oxo-2-FA. The latter activity was decreased in mammary gland by ovariectomy. Microsomal N-acyltransferase activities were <36% those of cytosols. AcCoA-dependent binding of N-OH-2-[ring-[3H]FBA to DNA, catalyzed by cytosol, was consistent with a two-step activation of N-OH-2-FBA involving esterase-catalyzed N-debenzoylation to N-OH-2-FA and its O-acyltransferase-catalyzed acetylation to the electrophilic N-acetoxy-2-FA. O-Acetyltransfer by mammary gland appeared to be rate-limiting since ovariectomy-dependent increases in N-debenzoylation did not increase binding with S9 fraction. Little or no sulfotransferase-catalyzed binding of N-OH-2-[ring-3H]FBA-derived N-OH-2-[ring-3H]FA was detected in the liver or mammary gland cytosol, respectively. The level of binding of N-OH-2-[ring-3H]FAA to DNA catalyzed by cytosolic N,O-acyltransferase was decreased approximately 23% in mammary gland and increased 1.2-fold in liver by ovariectomy. 32P-Postlabeling analyses indicated a single adduct N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-fluorenamine in DNA of both tissues 24 h after one intraperitoneal injection of N-OH-2-FBA or N-OH-2-FAA. Respective levels were 3.6- and 5.5-fold greater in liver than mammary gland. After ovariectomy, the adduct levels from N-OH-2-FBA increased 1.8-fold in mammary gland and from N-OH-2-FAA decreased approximately 50% in both tissues. Thus, the ovariectomy-dependent changes in levels of enzymes activating N-OH-2-FBA and N-OH-2-FAA were consistent with in vivo DNA adduct levels in the target mammary gland, but not in the liver.