[The effect of an organic gold compound on porphyrin metabolism, with reference to interaction with lead]

Inhibition of the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase by heavy metals such as Cu, Cd and Au has been thought to be related to the inhibition of heme bio-synthesis in the bone marrow. This study investigates the interaction between lead and gold on porphyrin metabolism. Gold thiomalate (Au-T) was injected subcutaneously 10 times into the backs of rabbits in doses of 1, 10 and 100 mg per capita for 30 days. The latter two groups of animals showed mild anemia, but they showed neither reticulocytosis nor increase of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP). In rabbits administered lead only or lead plus gold thiomalate, however, reticulocytosis and an increase in FEP levels were observed. Therefore, the etiology of anemia may be different between rabbits administered gold thiomalate and rabbits administered lead. Rabbits injected with Au-T showed an increase in urinary coproporphyrin (CP-U) excretion. The maximum concentration of CP-U in the gold groups was about 3 times as high as that in the control group, but the increment was lower than that in the lead group. Rabbits injected with Au-T showed a higher concentration of gold in the kidneys than in other tissues. In those injected lead and Au-T together, concentration of gold in all tissues was higher than in those administered Au-T only. Proteinuria was observed in the rabbits injected Au-T. The increase in CP-U in the gold-injected rabbits was assumed to be related to the increase in gold concentration in the kidneys.