Abstract
Summary
The level of ascorbate in the blood of normal birds was higher in birds kept at 7.2 and 21°C than in those raised at 30°C. Bruising resulted in a depletion of ascorbate in the blood probably due to utilization by the damaged tissues. Bruises injected daily with 2.0 mg Na-ascorbate healed at a much faster rate than bruises of non-treated birds. This treatment resulted in fast degradation of the hemoglobin present, mostly to bilirubin in birds kept at 30°C which normally accumulate biliverdin. Na-ascorbate reduced the size of the bruise and activated proteolytic enzyme in bruised tissue.
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