Effect of several xenobiotics on the activities of enzymes affecting ascorbic acid synthesis in rats.

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Abstract
The dietary addition of several xenobiotics, e.g., PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), DDT, aminopyrine, chloretone, BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), caused significant increases in the ascorbic acid in urine and liver of rats. These xenobiotics increased the activity of hepatic UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (1.3.sbd.2.8-fold), and the administration of PCB, DDT, BHT or BHA significantly increased the activity of hepatic UDP-glucuronyl transferase (2.2.sbd.13.1-fold). The activity of .beta.-glucuronidase was slightly increased with feeding of PCB, DDT, chloretone or aminopyrine. However, the activity of hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid pyrophosphatase, the conversion of D-glucuronic acid or D-glucuronolactone into L-ascorbic acid and the activity of hepatic L-gulonolactone oxidase did not increase with the administration of of PCB or DDT. The increase in the activities UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase could have a major role in the stimulation of ascorbic acid synthesis in xenobiotic treated rats.