The effect of cortisone and adrenocorticotropic hormone on the dehydroascorbic acid of human plasma

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Abstract
Comparison of the method of Roe and Keuther (1943) with a procedure using 2,6-dichloro-phenol-indophenol for detn. of "total ascorbic acid" and ascorbic acid, respectively, gives results which suggest that a significant part of the vit. C in human plasma is present as dehydroascorbic acid. The differences obtained in the concns. of plasma vit. C by the 2 methods are completely removed by treating plasma filtrate with H2S prior to using the indophenol method, regardless of their magnitude before such treatment. The specificities of the specificities of the 2 methods and the reactions they involve make it difficult to explain such results except as due to the presence of dehydroascorbic acid. The procedures do not suggest the presence of diketogulonic acid. Admn. of adreno-corticotropin to human subjects produced a rise in the concn. of plasma total ascorbic acid, with a diminution in the concn. of plasma dehydroascorbic acid 2-4 hrs. after intramusc. injn. Oral admn. of cortisone resulted in no rise in the concn. of plasma total ascorbic acid, but in a rise in ascorbic acid of such magnitude that dehydroascorbic acid temporarily disappeared from the plasma 0.5-2 hrs. after admn. The significance of these alterations is discussed both with reference to the origin of the increase in total ascorbic acid appearing in the plasma and to the mechanisms involved in the reduction of dehydroascorbic acid to ascorbic acid.

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