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Identification of Tumorigenic Metabolites of Benzo[j]fluoranthene Formed in Vivo in Mouse Skin¹

Naylor Dana Institute for Disease Prevention, American Health Foundation, Valhalla, New York 10595

The metabolism of benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF) in vivo in mouse skin was investigated. trans-4,5-Dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF-4,5-diol) and trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF-9,10-diol) have been identified as major metabolites. In addition, 4- and 10-hydroxybenzo[j]fluoranthene and benzo[j]fluoranthen-4,5-dione have been tentatively identified among the metabolites formed in vivo in mouse skin. The enantiomeric purity of the metabolic dihydrodiols of BjF as formed in vivo in mouse skin was determined. The major enantiomer of BjF-4,5-diol was present in 57–62% enantiomeric excess while that of BjF-9,10-diol was present in 66–71% enantiomeric excess. In each case the later-eluting enantiomer on chiral stationary-phase high performance liquid chromatography predominanted. The tumor-initiating activity of trans-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF-2,3-diol), BjF-4,5-diol, BjF-9,10-diol, and BjF was evaluated on the skin of female CD-1 mice. As a total initiation dose of 3 µmol/mouse BjF-4,5-diol resulted in a 100% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with 5.0 tumors/mouse. In comparison, BjF-9,10-diol elicited a 60% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with 1.7 tumors/mouse, while BjF-2,3-diol was inactive. At the same dose, BjF gave rise to a 90% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with 7.8 tumors/mouse. At a 1-µmol dose, BjF-4,5-diol induced a 78% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with 4.3 tumors/mouse while BjF gave rise to a 70% tumor incidence with 3.4 tumors/mouse. These studies indicate that while BjF-9,10-diol could contribute to the overall tumorigenic activity of BjF in mouse skin, BjF-4,5-diol is a more potent tumor initiator in the target tissue.

¹ This study was supported by Grant ES 02030 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 6/19/87. Revised 8/31/87. Accepted 9/10/87.