The Influence of Vitamin C Level Upon Resistance to Diphtheria Toxin

Abstract
Guinea pigs maintained on diets deficient in vitamin C, and injected with sublethal amounts of diphtheria toxin showed diffuse hyperplastic arteriosclerosis in lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys. No vascular thickening was observed in the heart. Such animals also developed hydropic degeneration of the islets of Langerhans and an associated hyperglycemia and lowered glucose tolerance. With recovery of the animal the pancreatic lesions disappeared. The significance of these findings is discussed.