Effect of diet on fecal excretion and gastrointestinal tract distribution of unmetabolized benzo(a)pyrene and 3- methylcholanthrene when these compounds are administered orally to hamsters.

3-Methylcholanthrene (3MC) administered p.o. has induced tumors of the hamster gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including the large intestine. This process may depend on the concentration of unchanged hydrocarbon in the GIT contents. Benzo(a)pyrene (BP) ingestion could be involved in human GIT carcinogenesis. Accordingly, male Syrian golden hamsters were fed diets containing BP or 3MC for 10 days. Feces collected during the last two to three days of feeding were analyzed for the unchanged hydrocarbons by KOH:methanol digestion, Florisil column and paper chromatography, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. With a semisynthetic diet containing 5% Alphacel, 6% corn oil, and 100 microgram BP per g. fecal BP excretion was 0.45% of the dose. Variation of the corn oil content had little effect. Fecal BP excretion was increased 13 times (to 6% of the dose) when 5% wheat brain was used in place of Alphacel and 4.5 times when a commercial diet was used. This suggests that bran adsorbed or sequestered the BP. Water content of the large-intestine contents was increased when the brain diet was fed. Both these factors could affect mucosal exposure to BP. For 3MC, fecal excretion of unchanged hydrocarbon was 14 times greater than for BP under similar conditions. The GIT contents of hamsters fed BP or 3MC showed hydrocarbon concentrations in the order: stomach greater than lower large intestine greater than other sections.