Oct. 2 , Igi6 
Formation of Hematoporphyrin in Ox Muscle 
45 
The generally accepted view concerning the disposal of the free hemo¬ 
globin in the blood stream under normal conditions is that the hemo¬ 
globin is converted directly into bile pigments by the liver. Such being 
the case, it would seem that when an abnormal quantity of hemoglobin is 
liberated into the blood stream, or when the activity of the liver is 
greatly decreased by disease or other causes, that hemoglobin rather 
than hematoporphyrin would be excreted in the urine. 
The results of the experiments reported in this paper, which show 
that the striated muscular tissue of the ox has the property of readily 
and completely reducing oxyhemoglobin to hematoporphyrin, not only 
indicate a source and method of production of this compound in the 
body but likewise suggest that hematoporphyrin may be an intermediate 
product in the transformation of hemoglobin into bile pigments. The 
presence of hematoporphyrin-producing enzyms in muscular tissue can 
hardly be regarded as without physiological significance. 
In this connection a statement by Matthews 1 is significant. He 
asserts that it is one of the functions of the liver to pick out the hema¬ 
toporphyrin from the blood, where it occurs normally in small quantities, 
and convert it into a harmless bile pigment. 
SUMMARY 
The results of the experiments reported in this paper may be sum¬ 
marized as follows: 
(1) The striated muscular tissue of the ox contains enzyms which, 
under anaerobic conditions, readily and completely reduce oxyhemoglobin 
to hematoporphyrin. 
(2) It appears very probable that hematoporphyrin may be a regular 
intermediate product in the transformation of hemoglobin into bile 
pigments. 
1 Matthews, A. P. Physiological Chemistry, p. 422. New York, 1915. 
