Effect of the Female Sexual Cycle on the Activity of δ-Aminolaevulinate Synthase in Rat Liver

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Abstract
The predominant occurrence of acute intermittent porphyria in women and the frequent exacerbation of this disease premenstrually and in pregnancy has led to the suspicion that it is exacerbated by female sex hormones. The activity of .delta.-aminolevulinate synthase was determined in the livers of fed female rats and was varied with the phase of their sexual cycle. The highest enzymic activity was obtained during preestrus (38.0 .+-. 3.2 nmol .delta.-aminolevulinate/g liver h-1), the lowest during diestrus (17.4 .+-. 3.4 nmol .delta.-aminolevulinate/g liver h-1). During estrus and metestrus the activity of the enzyme was intermediate. The oscillation of the enzymic activity might be significant in the occurrence of the ovulocyclic form of acute intermittent porphyria.