Drug-nitrite interactions: species and sex differences in the formation of dimethylnitrosamine and its effects on the hepatic enzyme activities.

Aminopyrine interacted with sodium nitrite in the stomachs of rats and guinea pigs forming dimethylnitrosamine, which affected the hepatic microsomal drug metabolism and certain hepatic enzyme activities. Sex and species differences in changes in the enzyme activities were observed after single or simultaneous administration of aminopyrine and sodium nitrite. A protective effect on dimethylnitrosamine formation with ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol was observed. The in vivo formation of dimethylnitrosamine by several antibiotics and an antihistaminic drug with tertiary amino group was also examined.