Increased aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and prolyl hydroxylase activities in lung organ cultures exposed to benzo[a]pyrene.

Exposure of neo-natal rat lungs in organ culture to 10--25 microM benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) elevated the activities of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and prolyl hydroxylase (PH). Pyrene, a non-carcinogenic hydrocarbon did not elicit this response. Prolyl hydroxylase is an indicator of collagen synthesis and increased PH activity in the lungs reflects increased collagen synthesis. Our studies suggest that the earliest events in BaP-induced lung injury may include altered collagen metabolism.