Biotransformation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[alanthracene by mouse epidermal cells in culture

The formation of cell- and medium-associated metabolites of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) by primary mouse epidermal cells was examined using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Cells were cultured in the presence of 14C DMBA for various time periods prior to harvesting. Ethyl acetate/acetone (2:1) extractable metabolites found associated with cells cochromatographed with 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-OHM-12-MBA), 12-hydroxymethyl-7-methylbenz[a]anthracene (12-OHM-7-MBA), (+/-)-trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene ((+/-)-trans-DMBA-3,4-diol) and phenols. The major metabolite(s) found within cells cochromatographed with DMBA-phenol(s). Ethyl acetate/acetone extractable metabolites found in the medium cochromatographed with 7-OHM-12-MBA, 12-OHM-7-MBA, (+/-)-trans-DMBA-3,4-diol, (+/-)-trans-8,9-dihydro-8,9-dihydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene ((+/-) -trans-DMBA-8,9-diol) and phenols. The major ethyl acetate/acetone soluble metabolite found in the medium cochromatographed with (+/-)-trans-DMBA-8,9-diol. This metabolite is rapidly excreted unchanged from the cells into the medium. In addition, primary epidermal cells rapidly converted 14C DMBA to water soluble metabolites that could not be extracted from the medium with ethyl acetate/acetone. Approximately 50% of these water soluble metabolites were extractable with organic solvent upon treatment of the medium with beta-glucuronidase. Phenolic metabolite(s) represented 75-85% of the total beta-glucuronidase releasable material. The results indicated that primary mouse epidermal cells in culture rapdly converted DMBA to a variety of hydroxylated products some of which were conjugated with glucuronic acid. In addition, the formation of (+/-)-trans-DMBA-3,4-diol and its retention within the cells provides additional support for an important role for this metabolite in carcinogenesis by DMBA.