Evaluation of the carcinogenic activity of the hydroxymethyl derivatives of 7,12‐dimethylbenz(A) anthracene by an in vitro‐in vivo technique

7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and three of its metabolites were tested for carcinogenic activity by in vitro incubation with murine pulmonary tissue for 2 days followed by implantation of the explants into isologous mice. 7-Hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz(a) anthracene and 12-hydroxymethyl-7-methylbenz(a) anthracene were as potently carcinogenic as the parent hydrocarbon but 7,12-dihydroxymethylbenz(a)-anthracene was inactive. These results are discussed in the light of current theories of metabolic activation of the hydrocarbon. EVALUATION DE L'ACTIVITE CARCINOGGNE DES DERIVES HY DROXYMETHYLES DU 7,12-DIMETHYLBENZO(a)ANTHRACkNE PAR UNE TECHNIQUE IN VITRO-IN VZVO L'activite carcinogene du 7,12-dimethylbenzo (a)anthracene et de trois de ses metabolites a ete etudiee par incubation. in vitro,.pendant 2 jours, avec du tissu pulmonaire murin, puis implantation des explants sur des souris isologues. Le 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenzo (a)anthracene et le 12-hydroxymethyl-7-methylbenzo (a)anthracene sont des carcinogenes aussi puissants que l'hydrocarbure dont ils sont derives, mais le 7,12-dihydroxymethylbenzo (a)anthracene est inactif. Ces resultats sont analyses a la lumiere des theories actuelles sur l'activation metabolique de l'hydrocarbure