Cadmium administration and L-ascorbic acid metabolism in rats: effect of L-ascorbic acid supplementation
Chatterjee, G.C.; Banerjee, S.K.; Pal, D.R.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 43(3): 370-377
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 4749920 Document Number: 70201
The effect of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation of Cd toxicity was studied in male albino rats. Administration of Cd decreased growth rate and caused severe anaemia with diminished excretion of ascorbic acid in urine. Supplemental ascorbic acid reversed these toxic effects. Whereas the concentration of ascorbic acid in the liver of rats was decreased by the addition of Cd to the diet, tissue ascorbic acid was increased to normal by administration of the vitamin. Cd intoxication caused disturbance of the histology of the liver by dissociation of cells and disruption of the normal cell arrangement pattern; these histological disturbances were not reversed by administration of ascorbic acid. In addition, Cd toxicity greatly decreased the rate of synthesis of ascorbic acid in liver and increased the catabolism of the vitamin. Cd toxicity affected kidney tissue by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for xylulose biosynthesis.