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. 1972 Oct;129(5):1095–1099. doi: 10.1042/bj1291095

The effect of exogenous δ-aminolaevulinate on rat liver haem and cytochromes

Robert Druyan 1, Aldon Kelly 1
PMCID: PMC1174267  PMID: 4656595

Abstract

The activity of δ-aminolaevulinate synthetase is generally regarded as rate-limiting for hepatic haem biosynthesis. It has been suggested that cytochrome synthesis may also be regulated by changes in δ-aminolaevulinate synthetase activity. This hypothesis was studied by injecting product, δ-aminolaevulinate, into adult rats over a 4–240h period. The concentrations of hepatic mitochondrial cytochromes a, b, c and c1 were unchanged by treatment with δ-aminolaevulinate, allylisopropylacetamide or phenobarbital. In control animals, total microsomal haem content equalled the sum of cytochromes b5 plus P-450. After δ-aminolaevulinate administration the total amount of microsomal haem, measured as the pyridine haemochromogen, exceeded these components, indicating the formation of a `free' haem pool. Haem synthesis does not appear rate-limiting for hepatic cytochrome synthesis in the adult rat.

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Selected References

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