Inability of Vitamin A Deficiency to Alter Benzo(a)pyrene Metabolism in Syrian Hamsters1

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 hy drocarbon 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 /¡-retinylacetate to the in vitro incuba tions did not substantially affect benzo(a)pyrene metab olism.