Formation of Porphyrin from Delta-Aminolevulenic Acid by Uterine and Liver Tissue from Laying Hens. ∗

Summary

1. Uterine tissue, from white or brown egg-laying hens, forms twice as much porphyrin, in vitro, from delta-aminolevu-lenic acid as liver tissue. Supernatant preparations of uterine tissue form predominately uroporphyrin, small amounts of protoporphyrin, and trace amounts of coproporphyrin from delta-aminolevulenic acid. These compounds were tentatively identified by their behavior in the fractionation procedure used and by their absorption curves. 2. Oopor-phyrin and coproporphyrin were extracted from the glandular tissue of the uterus of laying hens.