Relation between photosensitization of rats by Chlorella powder and chlorophyllase activity in the powder

Rats were fed Chlorella powder, and the appearance of photosensitization was investigated in relation to chlorophyllase activity in the Chlorella powder. The sensitivities of different experimental animals to Photosensitization were also examined. The differences of chlorophyllase productivity among three strains of Chlorella were studied. The following results were obtained. 1. The appearance of photosensitization in rats seemed to be correlated with chlorophyllase activity in Chlorella powder, and particularly with total contents of formed chlorophyllide and initial pheophorbide. 2. It was observed that the rat was more sensitivity to the Photosensitization than the mouse. 3. It was found that the chlorophyllase activities in three strains of Chlorella were rather different from each other under the same conditions of culture.