Abstract
Summary
The mean adrenal weight/100 g body weight, and the adrenal ascorbic acid concentration of groups of rats approximately 3 days after subcutaneous or intravenous injection of alloxan were shown to be significantly greater than the respective mean values in intact rats. The extent of adrenal ascorbic acid depletion 60 minutes after subjection to an acutely stressful condition (208 mg glucose solution by intravenous administration) in intact and alloxan-injected groups was practically identical; and significantly lower concentration than control values were obtained. The results were discussed as further evidence of the problem whether adrenal ascorbic acid concentration may be considered a reliable guide of hyper- or hypofunction of the adrenal cortex. A tentative explanation of the increased ascorbic acid concentration in the alloxan-diabetic groups was also discussed.
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