5-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity in blood of rabbits given tin or lead

The activity of 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) in rabbit blood is significantly inhibited by tin. Intravenous administration of tin (0.48 or 4.8 mumol/kg body weight) causes a decrease in the activity of the enzyme by 60% or 94% respectively. The effects of tin and lead on ALAD differ: inhibition by tin is not affected by pre-incubation at 50-60 degrees C, whereas the inhibitory effect of lead is increased by the same pretreatment. The optimum pH for rabbit blood ALAD is 6.8 in control rabbits. This optimum shifts to pH 5.8-6.0 in the blood of tin-treated rabbits, with or without pre-incubation at 60 degrees C for 5 min, while a similar shift is prevented by the same pre-incubation after lead treatment. Recovery to normal activity is faster after tin than after lead treatment.