CARCINOGENESIS IN THE ESOPHAGUS

I. PENETRATION OF SENZO[a]PYRENE AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS INTO THE ESOPHAGEAL MUCOSA

Abstract

Penetration of benzo[a]pyrene and other aromatic hydrocarbons into the esophageal mucosa after application into the esophagus of mouse was examined by fluorescence microscopy. When benzo[a]pyrene was dissolved in aqueous solutions of ethanol and administered, the epithelium of the esophagus showed a strong purplish blue or occasionally whitish blue fluorescence, However, the epithelium hardly fluoresced when the same hydrocarbon was dissolved in olive oil and administered in entirely the same way. This does not necessarily mean, however, that benzo[a]pyrene in oil can never penetrate into the esophageal epithelium because a moderately strong fluorescence was observed in the epithelium after a highly concentrated solution of benzo[a]pyrene in Tricaprylin was similarly administered. It was also noted that benz[a]anthracene and fluoranthene dissolved in ethanol solution or aqueous caffeine solution can enter the epithelium of the esophagus.