Epidermal hyperplasia after topical application of benzo (a) pyrene, benzo (a) pyrene diol epoxides, and other metabolites.

The effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and 22 derivatives upon the number of nuclei per unit length of epidermis, the number of cell layers of epidermis, and the thickness of the epidermal layer were studied. Several derivatives of BP induced changes in epidermal morphology that are typical of those produced by various agents that promote skin tumorigenesis after application of an initiator. The most potent compounds tested were the BP diol epoxides, (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9beta, 10beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo-(a)pyrene (diol epoxide 1) and (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha, 10alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (diol epoxide 2). These derivatives were followed in activity by 9-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, 2-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, and by 9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene. The possible implications of these results with regard to the carcinogenicity of BP on mouse skin are discussed.