The formation of genotoxic metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene by the isolated perfused rat liver, as detected by the bioluminescence test.

The kinetics of the formation of mutagenic metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in an isolated perfused rat-liver system have been studied. No genotoxic activity was detected in the perfusate using either the Ames test or the new bioluminescence test for genotoxic agents (BLT). The bile excretion showed strong genotoxic activity especially in the presence of the deconjugation enzymes beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase. The BLT was 1000-fold more sensitive than the Ames test in detecting the genotoxic activity in the bile excretion.