In vivo studies with hexamethylmelamine

Abstract

Uptake and distribution studies using C 14 -Hexamethylmelamine in normal and non-tumour bearing mice have shown no selective uptake by the tumour, but a marked concentration of label in the small intestine. Binding of both ring and methyl- C 14 -HMM to liver and to a lesser extent to tumour has been shown to occur. In mice 4 major urinary metabolites were detected, namely N 2 , N 4 , N 6 -trimethylmelamine, N 2 , N 4 -dimethylmelamine, monomethylmelamine and melamine. No quantitative difference between HMM and its inactive trimethyl derivative was found in their ability to undergo demethylation in vivo.