Urinary excretion of isomers of biliverdin after destruction in vivo of haemoproteins and haemin.

The amount and isomeric composition of urinary biliverdin in rabbits were analysed by h.p.l.c. Physiological values were maintained after the injection of haemin. On the other hand, when haemoglobins from several mammalian species were injected into rabbits, the excretion of biliverdin-IX alpha and biliverdin-IX beta were increased 6-18-fold and 32-66-fold respectively over physiological excretion. Injection of myoglobin resulted in a 44-fold increase in excretion of the IX alpha-isomer. Coupled oxidation with ascorbate of haemoglobin and myoglobin by oxygen produced mainly the IX alpha- and IX beta-isomers from haemoglobin and the IX alpha-isomer from myoglobin. The destruction of part of the haem from injected haemoproteins by non-enzymic chemical degradation would account for the observed respective increases in the excretion of biliverdin isomers. The excretion of biliverdin isomers after the injection of phenylhydrazine into rabbits was similar to that after the injection of haemoglobin.