Inability of vitamin A deficiency to alter benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in Syrian hamsters.

Syrian golden hamsters were placed on a control or vitamin A-deficient diet. When their serum vitamin A content was significantly reduced, i.e., to less than 10% of controls, the hamsters were killed and lung aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene were determined. The benzo(a)pyrene metabolite profile was similar with control and A-deficient systems, and only few quantitative differences were noted. Addition of beta-retinyl acetate to the in vitro incubations did not substantially affect benzo(a)pyrene metabolism.