Whole-Animal Experiments and the Formation of Heme

Induction in Whole-Animal Experiments and the Formation of Heme 

After it had been shown in chick embryo liver culture treated with inhibitors that RNA and protein synthesis were required for induction of ALA-synthetase [24,25], these results were confirmed in whole-animal studies [77-79]. Narisawa and Kikuchi [79] were able to detect an increase of ALA-synthetase in the liver 1 to 2 hours after a single subcutaneous dose of 400 mg of ALA per kilogram. It was also shown that not only porphyrins but heme synthesis was increased in chemical porphyria. DeMatteis and Rimington [80], using 2- C-glycine or Fe, found an increased heme labeling in the presence of the inducers sedormid, AIA, and griseofulvin. It was not determined whether total heme was increased or whether heme turnover had increased. 

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