RELATIVE ABILITIES ON A MOLAR BASIS OF HEXAFLUOROBENZENES, HEXACHLOROBENZENES AND HEXABROMOBENZENES TO DECREASE LIVER UROPORPHYRINOGEN DECARBOXYLASE ACTIVITY AND CAUSE PORPHYRIA IN FEMALE RATS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (2) , 377-384
Abstract
Virgin female Agus rats were fed a diet containing hexahalogenated benzenes (700 nmol/g of food) for 70 days. The liver concentrations of these compounds were then determined and correlated with any depression in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity and increases in porphyrin levels (indicating the induction of porphyria). Hepatic concentrations of the compounds corresponded to the series F > Cl > Br. Depression of decarboxylase activity and increase in porphyrin levels were Cl > Br > F, (hexachlorobenzene and hexabromobenzene increased porphyrins by 513- and 17-fold, respectively), suggesting that at its site of action in the liver hexabromobenzene may be more porphyrogenic than the Cl analog. This may suggest a relationship between the strength of the carbon-halogen bond and the induction of porphyria.