Reversal of sulfide-induced effects on porphyrin metabolism by exogenous heme.

Rats injected intraperitoneally with 0.15 mmol sodium sulfide/kg body weight showed decreased reticulocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase and heme synthase activities 24 h later. Liver delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase and heme oxygenase activities were also decreased at the same time. Injection of heme arginate (10 mg heme/kg body weight) intraperitoneally 3 h after the sulfide dose completely corrected the sulfide effects and greatly stimulated the hepatic heme oxygenase activity.