The distribution of benzo(a)pyrene and its metabolites in isolated perfused lung and liver

Distribution of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and its metabolites in an isolated perfused lung was compared with distribution in an isolated perfused liver. The uptake of BP into the lung was slower than into the liver. A methylcholanthrene (MC)-induced lung metabolized BP as efficiently as MC-induced liver. The lung seemed to accumulate BP-metabolites while the liver excreted them into the bile and perfusion medium. It is suggested that distribution of metabolites may be significant in determining the carcinogenic effect of BP in various tissues.