Excretion of formaldehydegenic (FG) substances by normal and scorbutic guinea pigs.

Abstract

Although several publications have suggested that ascorbic acid may be important in the function of the adrenal cortex (Long 1947, Sayers 1950) the role of ascorbic acid in the metabolic processes of the adrenal gland is still undetermined, and some of the evidence appears contradictory. Giroud et al. (1939, 1940, 1940a, 1941) have reported that normal adrenal function was dependent upon an adequate ascorbic acid supply. Supporting evidence for the presence of functional impairment of the adrenal cortex in scurvy may be seen in reports (Lockwood et al., 1933, 1936; Ratsimamanga, 1944) that adrenal cortical extracts favorably altered the course of scurvy in guinea pigs. Recent work has shown that the life of guinea pigs maintained on a diet deficient in ascorbic acid may be prolonged if the animals are given cortisone (Hyman et al., 1950; Schaffenburg et al., 1950).