Primary hepatocyte cultures from six human donors were established and their abilities to metabolize the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were examined. Cells from each donor were plated at similar densities (1 X 10(7) cells/100 mm dish). All cultures metabolized B[a]P to a significant extent (24-35 nmol in 24 h) and h.p.l.c. profiles of the organic solvent-soluble and glucuronidated B[a]P metabolites were obtained for all donors. The predominant extracellular organic solvent-soluble B[a]P metabolites were the 9,10- and 7,8-dihydrodiols, 9-hydroxy-B[a]P, and a mixture of tetrols, but the general ratios of these metabolites varied widely among the cells from different donors. In contrast, profiles were highly reproducible in cells from the same donor treated with B[a]P at either 8 or 24 h after initial plating. There was less variability in the amounts of specific B[a]P metabolites conjugated to glucuronic acid by cells from various donors. This variability could not be correlated with cell viability or overall levels of B[a]P metabolism. In addition, B[a]P metabolism by fresh and cryopreserved hepatocytes from the same donor was compared. While there was only a small reduction in the level of total B[a]P metabolism after cell freezing, there was a 3- to 5-fold increase in production of B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol, found both in the extracellular medium and as glucuronic acid conjugates, by the cryopreserved cells tested.