Abstract
Summary
In a study of early effects of lead on delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) metabolism in rats a 4-fold increase in concentration of this metabolite was found in the urine within 12 hr after a single oral dose of lead acetate. This corresponded in time with a 3-fold increase in blood ALA synthetase (ALAS) and was preceded by at least 6 hr by a 90% decrease in blood ALA dehydrase (ALAD). Urinary ALA reached a peak at about 3-4 days and had returned to control levels at 6 days. Tissue ALAD increased towards normal throughout the 6-day period and was about twice the control values in liver after the second day. Blood ALAS decreased to half-normal by the second day.
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