The effect of hexachlorobenzene feeding on liver delta-aminolaevulinate synthase, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase and cytochrome P 450 was studied at various time-intervals in siderotic and non-siderotic rats. 2 In the non-siderotic group hexachlorobenzene feeding led to a progress decrease in liver uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity, accompanied by a progressive increase in delta-aminolaevulinate synthase activity. Cytochrome P 450 concentrations were above normal throughout but fell toward the end of the experiment. 3. Similar but more marked changes were found in the siderotic animals. The fall in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity occurred earlier and was significantly greater in these animals, whereas the increase in delta-aminolaevulinate synthase activity was consistently larger. Liver cytochrome P 450 concentration also rose but to a lesser extent than that in the non-siderotic rats. 4. Hexachlobenzene-induced porphyria would seem to be attributable to inhibition or inactivation of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. Hepatic siderosis has a synergistic effect with hexachlorobenzene on this enzyme and may exert additional effects by promoting cytochrome P 450 turnover.
