Metabolism of 3-hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene in rat, isolated hepatocytes and kidney

After intravenous injection of 3-hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene into rat, benzo (a) pyrene-diols were detected in urine, and in vitro experiment using isolated hepatocytes and sliced kidney also indicated the metabolism of 3-hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene to diol derivatives. THese results suggested the presence of unknown metabolic pathway of benzo (a) pyrene-phenols such as 3-hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene to diol derivatives both in vivo and in vitro .