Bioalkylation of Nucleic Acids in Mice by Insecticides. I. Alkylation of Liver RNA and DNA by Chlorpyrifos

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Abstract
Male mice were i.p. injected with 5 or 15 mg/kg body wt [1-14C]ethyl-chlorpyrifos. The radioactivity in liver, fat, kidney and urine was measured 6, 24, 48 and 192 h after treatment. Liver RNA and DNA were isolated and hydrolyzed and the bases separated by ion-exchange chromatography. Radioactivity resulting from incorporation and alkylation of RNA and DNA was measured. Labeled 7-ethylguanine was found in RNA hydrolysate which amounted to 5.5 .times. 10-3 calculated as a fraction of the applied dose. In DNA hydrolysate [14C]7-ethylguanine was missing and the major radioactivity was found in 2 unknown peaks, 1 of which corresponded to 3 .times. 10-2 of the applied dose. The extent of alkylation obtained with chlorpyrifos was high as compared with other organophosphates with methyl esters.