This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Denk, H. Articles by Meyer, U. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Denk, H. Articles by Meyer, U. A.

Effect of Griseofulvin on 5-Aminolevulinate Synthase and on Ferrochelatase in Mouse Liver Neoplastic Nodules¹

Division of Gastroenterologic Pathology and Hepatopathology (Hans Popper-Laboratory), Department of Pathology, University of Vienna School of Medicine, A-1090 Vienna, Austria [H. D., R. K., M. A-G.], and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic, University of Zurich School of Medicine, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland [U. A. M.]

Treatment of mice with griseofulvin for 8 months induced hepatocellular nodules in the liver which persist after discontinuation of griseofulvin feeding. We investigated the porphyrogenic effect of griseofulvin on these nodules and surrounding nonneoplastic liver after renewed short-term exposure of tumor-bearing mice to this agent. Griseofulvin treatment for 4 days led to marked elevation of the activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase in peritumoral (3.8-fold) and control (6-fold) liver. The increase in enzyme activity was much less pronounced in the nodules (1.5-fold). Ferrochelatase activity was markedly decreased under the same experimental conditions in both peritumoral and control livers (to 18 and 13.5%, respectively, of the pretreatment values), but the effect was considerably smaller in nodules (to 40% of the pretreatment value). These results may explain the lack of porphyrin accumulation in tumor tissue.

¹ Supported in part by Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung Grant 3580.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Division of Gastroenterologic Pathology and Hepatopathology (Hans Popper-Laboratory), Department of Pathology, University of Vienna School of Medicine, Spitalgasse 4, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Received 9/26/80. Accepted 1/13/81.