Uptake and release of [1- 14C]ascorbic acid and [1- 14C]dehydroascorbic acid by erythrocytes of guinea pigs

Abstract

The uptake and release of [1- 14C] ascorbic acid and [1- 14C]dehydroascorbic acid by erythrocytes of guinea pigs kept on a normal diet and of those on an ascorbic acid-deficient diet was studied in vitro. Results strongly suggest that the erythrocyte membrane is permeable to both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid in either direction. Mean ratios of the uptake of dehydroascorbic acid to ascorbic acid by the erythrocytes of normally fed guinea pigs (2.03 ± 0.69) and of vitamin C-deficient animals (2.49 ± 0.44) are given. After incubation with [1- 14C]ascorbic acid, only ascorbic acid was found in the erythrocytes and only ascorbic acid was released during reincubation. In the case of [1- 14C]dehydroascorbic acid, mainly dehydroascorbic acid was found to be present in the erythrocyte, but some ascorbic acid was always detectable. Both dehydroascorbic acid and ascorbic acid were released, mainly, however, dehydroascorbic acid.