THE EFFECT OF TIN PROTOPORPHYRIN ON THE BILIRUBIN PRODUCTION-RATE IN NEWBORN RATS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 3  (2) , 95-100
Abstract
Using a flow-through system, the pulmonary excretion rate of CO (VECO) was determined by gas chromatography and used as an index of bilirubin production in newborn rats treated with tin protoporphyrin [in order to prevent hyperbilirubinemia]. Hepatic and splenic heme oxygenase activities were determined spectrometrically. No significant differences in the VECO were found between experimental and control animals despite significant decreases in hepatic heme oxygenase activity (P < 0.0005) and splenic heme oxygenase activity (P < 0.025). There is apparently no simple relation between heme oxygenase activity and bilirubin production; heme oxygenase is present in excess amounts in neonatal rats; and the lowering of serum bilirubin levels caused by tin protoporphyrin cannot be attributed to decreased bilirubin production and may be owing instead to increased uptake, conjugation or excretion of bilirubin, or decreased enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin.

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