RELATION OF ASCORBIC ACID NUTRITION TO THEIN VITROMETABOLISM OF CORTISONE BY SURVIVING LIVER TISSUE

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Abstract
STUDIES from this laboratory suggested that dietary ascorbic acid excess may prevent the breakdown of injected cortisone to 17-ketosteroids. Adrenalectomized female rats injected with cortisone excrete large quantities of 17-ketosteroids and moderately large amounts of corticosteroids (phosphomolybdic acid reducing lipids, PRL). Simultaneous injection of ascorbic acid along with cortisone prevented the rise in urinary 17-ketosteroids (Bacchus, Altszuler and Heiffer, 1952; Bacchus and Heiffer, 1953), but led to an increase in the PRL excretion (Bacchus and Heiffer, 1953). These findings were associated with a prolongation of the hematologic action of cortisone (Bacchus, Altszuler and Heiffer, 1952b; Bacchus, Heiffer and Altszuler, in preparation). The above data, collected in adrenalectomized animals, suggested that large doses of ascorbic acid prevent the breakdown of cortisone, and in this manner help maintain larger amounts of hormone in the circulation. The present paper reports data on the in vitro disappearance of cortisone acetate when it is incubated with liver tissue of ascorbic acid deficient animals,