Enzymatic Porphyrin Synthesis in Harderian Glands and Other Organs and Tissues of Mice. ∗

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions

1. Buffered saline extracts of equal weights of mouse Harderian gland, liver, muscle-bone, and brain homogenates were prepared. 2. Various amounts of these extracts were tested for their capacity to produce porphyrin by adding 1.4 cc of a 0.01 M solution of δ aminolevulinic acid and incubating the mixture in a stoppered Klett tube at 37°C for 24 hours. 3. The Harderian gland displayed the greatest porphyrin-producing enzyme activity, whereas the liver was less than that of Harderian gland but 5 and 7 times as great as muscle-bone and brain respectively. 4. These results led to the conclusion that the Harderian gland is a porphyrin-secreting structure and probably not an excretory type of gland.