Investigations into the metabolism and mode of action of the colon carcinogen 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine.

Chromatographic methods have been developed which allow the separation and identification of azomethane (AM), azoxymethane (AOM), and methylazoxymethanol (MAM). These methods have been applied to the analysis of bile, urine, and the exhaled air of rats treated with the 14C--labeled colon carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) to provide evidence that AM, AOM, and MAM are indeed metabolites of DMH. Investigations into the metabolism and mode of action of DMH and its derivatives by other workers are briefly summarized and reviewed.