Metabolism of a carcinogen (7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene) in the pancreas of the Long-Evans rat

Because of the high incidence of pancreatic cancer in the United States and because of the correlation of pancreatic cancer to environmental exposure, we have undertaken experiments to measure the metabolism of the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene in the pancreas of the Long-Evans male rat. This study examined the in vitro metabolism of the carcinogen and found the production of aqueous products in pancreas to be similar to that in liver, however, the pancreatic capability was not induced to greater metabolism by pretreatment with either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of the in vitro products of pancreatic metabolism demonstrated a relatively greater abundance of 5,6-epoxy-7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenzanthracene than the liver and a relatively less abundance of 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenzanthracene and 7-methyl-12-hydroxymethylbenzanthracene than the liver. Carcinogen levels were measured in pancreas, liver, bile and blood at 2, 5, 10, 16, 22 and 36 hours after injection.