Carcinogenicity of the isomeric, N-nitroso-delta3-and N-nitroso-delta2-piperidines in rats and the in vivo isomerization of the delta3-to the delta2-isomer.

N-Nitroso-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (N-nitroso-delta3-piperidine), N-nitroso-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine (N-nitroso-delta2-piperidine) and N-nitroso-3,4-epoxypiperidine were tested for carcinogenicity in Fischer 344 rats. The unsaturated nitrosamines were administered in drinking water (100 mg/l). The epoxide was administered by gavage in corn oil (11.5 mg/ml, 0.2 ml twice a week). Both of the unsaturated nitrosamines were potent carcinogens (most of the animals died by the 35th week), and both produced many esophageal tumors, a property which they have in common with the parent compound, N-nitrosopiperidine. The spectrum of the other tumors formed, however, was different. The delta3-isomer produced hemangioendothelial sarcomas in the liver, which were absent in the tumor spectrum of the delta2-isomer and N-nitrosopiperidine. The delta2-isomer, on the other hand, produced tumors of the forestomach and the oropharynx, which were essentially absent in the rats treated with the delta3-isomer. N-nitroso-3,4-epoxypiperidine was a toxic compound (8 deaths in the first 5 weeks), but most of the remaining animals survived to 40 weeks. Of these, 8 animals died of induced tumors (esophagus and liver). The delta2- and the delta3-isomers were administered by gavage to groups of rats and the blood of these animals was withdrawn at timed intervals. Analysis of the serum revealed that both of the nitrosamines were cleared rapidly from circulation but that at the same time the delta3-isomer was being isomerized to the delta2. The reverse transformation did not occur in vivo.