Symptomatic Porphyria

The administration of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to rats for periods up to 67 days resulted in the development of gross cytoplasmic vacuolation and the formation of cytoplasmic inclusions. Some of the inclusions consisted of slender tubular structures about 200 A in diameter. Although it was suspected that the inclusions represented precipitated porphyrins, proof of this could not be obtained. The prior administration of iron to some of the animals before commencing feeding with HCB resulted in a more extensive development of the lesions in the liver, and this could account for the higher levels of excreted porphyrins in the iron-laden animals.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1833 (1974)