Inhibition in vivo of the formation of adducts between metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene and DNA by butylated hydroxyanisole

Antioxidants have been shown to inhibit the carcinogenic effects of a variety of chemical carcinogens. For example, the phenolic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-induced neoplasia in mouse lung and forestomach. The objective of the present study was to determine whether or nt BHA, under conditions known to result in inhibition of BP-induced neoplasia, affects the formation of BP metabolite:DNA adducts. Following p.o. administration of a carcinogenic dose of [3H]BP to A/HeJ mice, radioactivity was detected in the DNA of both lung and liver. Analysis of the deoxyribonucleosides by high-pressure liquid chromatography showed that the major adduct in both tissues cochromatographed with the (+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (BPDEI):deoxyguanosine adduct. The 7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta, 10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (BPDEII):deoxyguanosine adduct was 10 to 15% of the BPDEI adduct in both lung and liver. Another adduct, possibly derived from BP phenol(s), was also detected in lung and was 10 to 20% of the BPDEI adduct. Treatment of animals with BHA decreased the amount of the BPDEI adduct in the lung and the liver approximately 55 and 75%, respectively. The decrease in the amount of this adduct in the lung appears to correlate with the inhibition of pulmonary adenoma formation (L. W. Wattenberg, J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 50: 1541-1544, 1973; J. L. Speier, L. K. Lam, and L. W. Wattenberg, J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 60: 605-609, 1978). Thus, BHA appears to inhibit BP-induced pulmonary adenoma formation by inhibiting the amount of the BPDE:DNA adducts formed in lung. Possible mechanisms by which BHA treatment inhibits the formation of BPDE:DNA adducts are discussed.