Circadian rhythm of the ascorbic acid content in the adrenal gland of male rats

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Abstract
Male Wistar rats, who lived until the end of the second month under constant environmental conditions and under a rhythmical light‐dark regimen (LD 12:12), were divided into 2 groups. While one group (90 rats) was permanently exposed to light for 4 weeks, the other 56 rats continued to remain under rhythmical light‐dark changes. At the end of the third month alive, the animals were sacrificed at 6 different times of the 24‐hour period and the ascorbic acid was determined in the adrenal gland. The latter showed, in the animals living under rhythmical light‐dark changes, a daily rhythm having maximum values during the light‐ and minimum values during the dark‐periods. Under continuous light conditions the rhythm remained, however, it did exhibit phase shifting and a change of the minimum amplitude.