Abstract
The enzyme system responsible for the metabolism of benzopyrene has the highest activity in the liver; however, other tissues also possess some activity. The oxidation of benzopyrene is mediated via cytochrome P-450 system. Differences in the biotransformation enzyme activities may yield changes in the metabolic pattern of benzo(a)pyrene in the liver and intestinal mucosa. This chapter discusses the metabolic pattern of benzo(a)pyrene oxidation and consequent conjugation of these metabolites to glucuronides in isolated everted rat intestine. To initiate carcinogenic transformation in the cell, benzo(a)pyrene needs metabolic activation to epoxides. The conjugates of benzopyrene metabolites have carcinogenic properties in contrast to earlier belief that conjugated metabolites are biologically inactive. Although the hepatic benzo(a)pyrene metabolism is quantitatively most important, extrahepatic metabolism might in many cases be significant. Low amounts of metabolites were found in the serosal side suggesting that intestinal mucosa might have excretory function.
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