UPTAKE AND EXCRETION OF BENZO[ALPHA]PYRENE AND ITS METABOLITES BY THE RAT PANCREAS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (1) , 44-48
Abstract
Following i.v. administration of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene ([3H] BP) to rats, uptake of radioactivity by the pancreas, per g of tissue, was .apprx. 16% of that of the liver. At 5 min following administration, unmetabolized BP in the pancreas, liver and blood constituted 79, 50 and 49% of total BP uptake, respectively. The total uptake and unmetabolized BP in these tissues declined in a biphasic manner over the 2 h observation period, during which only 0.03% of the total administered dose was excreted in pancreatic juice, as compared to 39% in bile; all radioactivity in pancreatic juice and bile was due to polar BP metabolites, including 3-hydroxy-BP. Pretreatment of rats with methylcholanthrene induced a significant increase in biliary, but not pancreatic, excretion of radioactivity. Administration of secretagogues caused a 2-fold increase in pancreatic, but not biliary, radiactivity.