Comparative effects of the polychlorinated biphenyl mixture, Aroclor 1242, on porphyrin and xenobiotic metabolism in kidney of Japanese quail and rat.

1. Aroclor 1242 (500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a marked increase in porphyrin content of quail kidney (1800-fold), and of rat kidney but to a lesser extent (6-fold). 2. delta-Aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity was increased 12-fold in quail kidney but was unchanged in rat kidney following Aroclor 1242 treatment. 3. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity was significantly inhibited in quail kidney but not in rat kidney. 4. Renal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity was induced in rat and quail whereas renal ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and glutathione S-transferase activities were induced only in rats by Aroclor 1242.