Abstract:

Qualitative and quantitative studies of the porphyrins and the porphyrinogen carboxylyase of the liver, spleen, kidney, Harderian gland and erythrocytes from normal rats and from those with hexachlorobenzene-induced porphyria were carried out. Hexachlorobenzene has no effect on erythrocyte porphyrin content, but produces a decrease in that of Harderian gland and an increase in the porphyrin content of the kidney and spleen, and a marked increase in the liver (1 μmol/g of tissue). Octacarboxylic (isomer III) and heptacarboxylic porphyrins accumulated in kidney, spleen and liver, the former porphyrin being predominant. Hexachlorobenzene has no effect on the activity of porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase in erythrocytes; there is a slight decrease in enzyme activity in the Harderian gland, and a marked decrease in the liver and kidney enzyme activities. In the liver the removal of each carboxyl group from uroporphyrinogen III appears to be affected by this treatment. The liver is the principal site of action of hexachlorobenzene, with the kidney next in decreasing order of effect, and erythropoietic tissue is unaffected. The marked decrease in porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase activities observed in liver and kidney could explain the high accumulation of octacarboxylic and heptacarboxylic porphyrins found in these tissues. The results are discussed in relation to changes promoted by hexachlorobenzene in other enzymes of the haem pathway.