Metabolism of 7-methylbenz[c]acridine: comparison of rat liver and lung microsomal preparations and identification of some minor metabolites

The metabolism of the carcinogenic polycydic aza-aromatic compound, 7-methylbenz[c]acridine, has been studied in lung and liver microsomal preparations obtained from control and induced rats. Minor metabolites not previously identified included, trans-10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxy-7-methyl-benz[c]acridine, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-7-methyl-benz[c]acridine, 7-methylbenz[c]acridine-5,6-oxide and 7-hydroxymethylbenz[c]acridine-5,6-oxide. Metabolite profiles from liver microsomes showed 7-hydroxymethylbenz[c]-acridine, trans-8,9-diydro-8,9-dihydroxy-7-methylbenz[c]-acridine, 7-methylbenz[c]acridine-5,6-oxide and phenols to be major products. Metabolite distributions obtained with lung microsomes were very similar although activities were much lower than those of liver microsomes prepared from the same animals.