Skeletal Response to Exogenous Ascorbic Acid by Vitamins D 3 Deficient Chicks. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Subcutaneous injection of ascorbic acid given to vit. D₃ deficient chicks resulted in a highly significant reduction in per cent bone ash suggesting that the introduction of this compound had stimulated bone resorption. Calcium and phosphate release by incubating bone tissue did not support this idea, although the movement of hydroxypro-line did. An alternative explanation is based on the possibility that the marked change in per cent bone ash resulted from a change in the organic-inorganic ratio of bone tissue. If this were true, it would mean that the ascorbic acid stimulated matrix formation had but little or no effect on calcification.