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Comparison of benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in isolated perfused rat lung and liver

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Abstract

The metabolism of 1 mM benzo(a)pyrene was studied in isolated perfused lung and liver of 5,6-benzoflavone-pretreated rats. Benzo(a)pyrene metabolism by the liver was more rapid than by the lung, but total metabolite formation in the lung at the end of a 120-min perfusion period was comparable to that in the liver. Lung perfusate was characterized by high concentrations of free metabolites, with diols outweighing phenols; in liver perfusate free metabolite concentrations were low, and large quantities of metabolites were found as conjugates in the bile at the end of perfusion. The tissue concentrations of free diols and phenols including the precursors of the main DNA-binding secondary metabolites were higher in the lung than in the liver. These findings explain the similar level of covalent binding in perfused lung and liver previously described (Klaus et al. 1982).

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Abbreviations

BP:

benzo(a)pyrene

9,10-diol:

9,10-dihydro9,10-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene

4,5-diol:

4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene

7,8-diol:

7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene

9-OH:

9-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene

3-OH:

3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene

tetrols:

7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy-benzo(a)pyrenes

BF:

5,6-benzoflavone

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

HPLC:

high-pressure liquid chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Michael Mollière, Heidi Foth & Georg F. Kahl

  2. Max von Pettenkofer Department of the Federal Health Office, Box 33 00 13, D-1000, Berlin

    Regine Kahl

Authors
  1. Michael Mollière
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  2. Heidi Foth
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  3. Regine Kahl
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  4. Georg F. Kahl
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Mollière, M., Foth, H., Kahl, R. et al. Comparison of benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in isolated perfused rat lung and liver. Arch Toxicol 60, 270–277 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01234665

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01234665

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