In vitro Metabolism of Two Heterocyclic Amines, 2‐Amino‐9 H ‐pyrido[2,3‐ b ]indole (AαC) and 2‐Amino‐3‐methyl‐9 H ‐pyrido[2,3‐ b ]indole (MeAαC) in Human and Rat Hepatic Microsomes

2‐Amino‐9 H ‐pyrido[2,3‐ b ]indole (AαC) and 2‐amino‐3‐methyl‐9 H ‐pyrido[2,3‐ b ]indole (MeAαC) are two mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amines formed during ordinary cooking. In this study, we have investigated the in vitro metabolism of tritium‐labelled AαC and MeAαC in hepatic microsomes from human pools, rats induced with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (Aroclor 1254) and control rats. The microsomes were incubated with AαC and MeAαC and the detoxified and activated metabolites of AαC and MeAαC were separated and characterised by HPLC‐MS. AαC is metabolised to two major and three minor detoxified metabolites, while MeAαC is metabolised to three major and one minor detoxified metabolites. Some AαC and MeAαC are activated by oxidation to the reactive metabolites N 2 ‐OH‐AαC and N 2 ‐OH‐MeAαC, respectively. These reactive N 2 ‐OH‐metabolites react partially in the incubation system with formation of protein adducts, dimers and the parent compound by reduction of the N 2 ‐OH‐metabolites. The distribution between the detoxified and activated metabolites in the different types of hepatic microsomes showed same pattern for both AαC and MeAαC. In PCB‐induced rat microsomes, the major part of the metabolites are detoxified, only a little amount is activated. In control rat microsomes there is a fifty‐fifty distribution between detoxification and activation, while the major part of the metabolites from the human microsomes are activated and reacts to form dimers and protein adducts. These data show that, in human hepatic microsomes compared to rat hepatic microsomes, a major part of AαC and MeAαC are metabolically activated to the reactive N 2 ‐OH‐AαC and N 2 ‐OH‐MeAαC.