EXCRETION OF BENZO[A]PYRENE AND METABOLITES IN URINE AND FECES OF RATS - INFLUENCE OF ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION, SEX AND LONG-TERM ETHANOL TREATMENT

The urinary and fecal excretion of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and its main metabolites were studied after oral and intraperitoneal administratio n of B[a]P to male and female ethanol-treated and non-ethanol-treated rats. After oral administration of B[a]P more mutagenic compounds as w ell as B[a]P metabolites were found in feces than after intraperitonea l administration. The excretion of B[a]P metabolites in urine and fece s after oral administration were maximal at days 1 and 2 whereas after intraperitoneal administration excretion was maximal at days 2 and 3. In males, the amounts of excreted phenolic metabolites in urine and f eces were generally higher than in females. The amounts of mutagenic p roducts in urine and feces of males were also higher than in females a fter intraperitoneal and oral administration of B[a]P. In urine of fem ale rats that received B[a]P intraperitoneally, a decreased excretion of phenolic metabolites was found after ethanol treatment. In feces of both male and female rats, a decreased excretion of 3-OH-B[a]P was fo und after ethanol treatment. In this study, the influence of sex and a dministration route on the excretion of B[a]P metabolites was more pro nounced than the effect of ethanol treatment.