Comparative study of the cellular localization of three polycyclic hydrocarbons differing in their carcinogenicity

Three polycyclic hydrocarbons: benzo(a)pyrene; dibenz(a,h)-anthracene and dibenz(a,c)anthracene, differing in their carcinogenicity, were administered to female rats. The comparative intracellular localization of these compounds was studied by fluorescence microscopy. The two carcinogenic molecules were localized both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of cells and in numerous organs. The noncarcinogenic compound dibenz(a,c)anthracene was undetectable. This work suggests that the differences in carcinogenicity may result in the possibility of the compounds to penetrate the nucleus of target cells.