Metabolic Regulation of Heme Catabolism and Bilirubin Production. I. HORMONAL CONTROL OF HEPATIC HEME OXYGENASE ACTIVITY

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Abstract

Heme oxygenase (HO), the enzyme system catalyzing the conversion of heme to bilirubin, was studied in the liver and spleen of fed, fasted, and refed rats. Fasting up to 72 hr resulted in a threefold increase in hepatic HO activity, while starvation beyond this period led to a gradual decline in enzyme activity. Refeeding of rats fasted for 48 hr depressed hepatic HO activity to basal values within 24 hr. Splenic HO was unaffected by fasting and refeeding.

Authors

Arne F. Bakken, M. Michael Thaler, Rudi Schmid