Mouse strain variations in the magnitude of induction of liver DT-diaphorase and hereditary transmission of the trait

1. Strain variations among mice in terms of cytosolic DT-diaphorase activity were studied in liver, kidney, stomach and heart tissues with or without the administration of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA). 2. BHA induced DT-diaphorase activity in all strains examined, and the magnitude of induction varied depending on the strain and tissue. Among the 10 inbred strains tested, BALB/c and C57BL mice showed relatively large magnitudes of induction for liver DT-diaphorase, whereas C3H and CBA mice showed relatively small magnitudes. 3. Results of examinations of BALB/c-C3H-F1, -F2 and C57BL-CBA-F1 mice revealed that smaller magnitudes of induction of liver DT-diaphorase were inherited essentially as a dominant trait. The hereditary trait could be adequately explained by postulating two gene loci that regulate the magnitude of induction. 4. The possible significance of DT-diaphorase activity in chemical carcinogenesis was discussed.