Changes in some intestinal enzyme activities in experimental hexachlorobenzene-induced porphyria and modifying effects of diet.

Some diets exert a considerable influence on porphyrin metabolism and induction of microsomal liver enzymes in experimental porphyria induced by hexachlorobenzene (HCB). As HCB and its metabolites come into direct contact with intestinal mucosa, this study investigated the changes in the activities of intestinal disaccharidases and gamma-glutamyl transferase in a model of HCB-induced porphyria. The effects of different diets on enzymatic activities during HCB intoxication were also studied. HCB was administered by gastric tube at 3.5 mmol/kg body weight daily for 90 and 61 days. HCB intoxication strongly diminished the activities of intestinal lactase, maltase, sucrase, cellobiase and trechalase. Carbohydrate diets (with 78 weight % glucose or starch), given simultaneously with HCB treatment, exerted a protective effect on disaccharidase activities. These regimens maintained cellobiase and trechalase within the normal levels and even increased maltase. High-fat/high-protein diets (with 30% either butter or sunflower oil and 31% casein) aggravated the decrease of all disaccharidases. In contrast with the decrease in disaccharidase activity, intestinal gamma-glutamyl transferase was increased, suggesting multiple mechanisms for the action of HCB intoxication on the intestinal enzyme system. Diet had a pronounced modifying effect.