Distribution and binding pattern of benzo(a)pyrene in rat liver,lung and kidney constituents after oral administration

Orally administered ³H‐benzo(a)pyrene (BP) was persistent in protein fraction of liver, lung and kidney. The radioactivity in this fraction increased with time after administration and accounted for about 50%, 40% and 65% of total radioactivity in liver, lung and kidney, respectively at 48 hr. The BP metabolites binding proteins were located in cytosol and had molecular weights of 40,000–60,000 and 80,000–100,000 as determined by gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. In addition, at 48hr after administration, about 80% of radioactivity in high molecular weight protein fraction was found to be precipitated by trichloroacetic acid treatment.

These results suggest that BP metabolites might be transported by and are persistent in these protein fractions of liver, lung and kidney if the intake of BP is continuous. These proteins, therefore, appeared to be closely related to cell toxicity or mutagenicity in these organs as well as DNA.