Vitamin C in lymphoid organs of rats and cockerels treated with corticosterone or testosterone.

Abstract

Immature rats and cockerels were injected for 14 days with 0.05-5.0 mg of testosterone propionate or corticosterone, and the concentration and oxidation state of vitamin C in their lymphoid organs was measured. The total vitamin C concentration (ascorbate + dehydroascorbate) in the lymphoid organs of both animals decreased after hormone administration, but to a greater extent in rats than in cockerels. These changes appear to be independent of any direct hormonal influence on vitamin C biosynthesis. Significant and marked changes in the oxidation state of lymphoid organ vitamin C occurred after lympholytic steroid hormone treatment; the percentage of dehydroascorbate increased and that of ascorbate decreased. After hormone treatment the largest percentage change from controls (more than 100% increases in percentage dehydroascorbate) occurred in the central lymphoid organs, the bursa and thymus, rather than in the spleen or lymph nodes. Much lower dose levels of corticosterone (0.05 mg) than of testosterone propionate (5.0 mg) were required to produce this shift in the oxidation state of lymphoid organ vitamin C. We suggest the ascorbate-dehydroascorbate system in the lymphoid organs is an integral portion of the physiological mechanisms operative during hormonal modulation of the growth, metabolism, and function of the lymphoid organs.