Porphyrin Synthesis by Mouse Harderian Gland Extracts

Abstract

Summary and conclusions

1. The porphyrin-producing enzyme activity of the Harderian glands of mice of different strains, ages, and sex was determined. 2. The Harderian gland of the C₃H strain displayed the greatest porphyrin-producing enzyme activity, while the C₅₇, A, and LCSa strains showed lower activity in the order listed. 3. The age of the animals was the most important variable. From the age of 2 weeks until the age of 8 weeks, there appeared to be a steady increase in the activity of porphyrin-producing enzyme. After this age, porphyrin-producing enzyme activity remained uniformly high in all animals up to one year of age. 4. The small differences in amounts of porphyrin produced by Harderian glands of the mice of 2 sexes was not great enough to conclude that there is a sex difference with respect to porphyrin-producing capacity in the Harderian glands of mice of the strains tested.