title: Cimetidine suppresses chemically induced experimental hepatic porphyria.
abstract: The ability of cimetidine to reduce the activity of hepatic aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALA-S) was examined in allylisopropyl acetamide (AIA) treated porphyric adult rats. A dose of 20 mg cimetidine/100 gm body weight resulted in a 50% decrease in the AIA-induced hepatic ALA-S activity compared to rats treated with AIA alone. Heme oxygenase activity was decreased 25% compared to rats treated with AIA alone. The effects of AIA and cimetidine on cytochrome P-450 were not additive, suggesting competition for a common site of interaction. The results suggest that cimetidine may prove to be useful in treating porphyria in humans.
authors: Department of Medicine, NYU Medical Center, New York 10016.
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Marcus
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Nadel
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Lew
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Freedman
mesh_terms: D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000032:analysis; D000502:Allylisopropylacetamide; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000032:analysis; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000032:analysis; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000502:Allylisopropylacetamide; D002927:Cimetidine; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase