Studies on the metabolism of semen

the rabbit, to investigate this point, was negative. That porphobilinogen has here been demonstrated to be present in the liver in acute porphyria and that uroporphyrin has been obtained from liver and from faeces (Grinstein, Schwartz & Watson, 1945; Prunty, 1945), is of considerable significance. These facts do not accord with the view put forward by Waldenstrom & Vahlquist (1944) that the porphyrin formation in this condition is purely a secondary event, taking place after the formation of the urine. ,SUMMARY 1. The preparation of purified solutions of por- phobilinogen from the urine and from the liver of a patient suffering from acute porphyria is described. e 2. The reaction of these solutions with p-di- methylaminobenzaldehyde is studied. Urea and ascorbic acid inhibit the reaction. Creatine and creatinine are without effect.