In vitro distribution of porphyrin metabolites from 10(-3) M delta-aminolevulinic acid in primary neural tissue cultures.

The distribution of porphyrin metabolites (uro-7-6-5-copro-3-proto-heme) from 10(-3) M delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in neuronal and glial primary cultures was examined by an isotopic technique. In both cell types, 8-9% of the total production (cell + medium) was found in the cells and more than 90% in the medium. In both the cells and the medium the predominant porphyrin fraction was uro + 7 carboxylic. The heme fraction of the cells was also very high. Through the exclusion of ALA-synthetase activity, the "Uroporphyria-like-model" of "hepatic porphyria" was demonstrated.