Relationship of Ascorbic Acid to Secretion of Adrenocortical Hormones in Guinea Pigs.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Three groups of young guinea pigs were maintained on a scorbuti-genic diet and provided graded supplements of ascorbic acid in daily doses of 10, 0.6, and 0.0 mg. Animals which received no supplements of the vit. demonstrated a progressive decrease in circulating eosinophiles and marked adrenal hypertrophy. In the remaining groups there was an inverse relationship between the adrenal wt. and the level of vit. C supplement. Adrenocorti-cotropic hormone was administered to other guinea pigs in similar groups. Associated with admn. of ACTH to animals on the ascorbic acid-free regimen there was a secondary phase of wt. gain, delay in appearance of severe symptoms of scurvy, and prolongation of the survival period. In animals with severe scurvy ACTH produced a prompt fall in the eosinophile count. The results are interpreted as indicating that ascorbic acid deficiency is a non-specific stress and that vit. C is not directly concerned with the elaboration of adrenocortical hormones.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: