Formation of covalent deoxyribonucleic acid benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-epoxide adduct in mouse and rat skin

The covalently bound products of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene (BP) were determined in the DNA from the skin of mice and rats. The quality and the distribution of bound products was similar. The formation of products corresponding to 4,5-dihydro-4,5-epoxy benzo[a]pyrene (BPE) and to a further metabolite of 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene bound to DNA were found in the 2 species at the 24 h end point.