Effect of Repeated Alcohol Administration on Adrenal Ascorbic Acid and on Development of Scurvy in the Guinea Pig

Abstract

Since a single intoxicating dose of alcohol markedly lowers the ascorbic acid level in the adrenals of the rat and the guinea pig, it seemed pertinent to determine whether repeated intoxication would accelerate the rate of its depletion or the development of scurvy in guinea pigs kept on a scorbutogenic diet. Male guinea pigs weighing 350 to 400 g. were given daily intraperit. injns. of 4 g. of alcohol as a 15% soln. in 5% glucose. Pair-fed controls either received injns. of glucose or nothing. The adrenal ascorbic acid concn. remained consistently lower in the animals sacrificed 24 hrs. after receiving alcohol for 1-4 days than in comparable controls, although 72 hrs. after the last injn. the difference had become very slight. Similar injns. of alcohol as a 10% soln. 3 times per wk. on alternate days for 6 wks. did not accelerate the rate of development of scurvy over pair-fed controls. No difference was found between the test and control groups either in mortality rate or in adrenal cholesterol concn. Animals from either group dying of scurvy had only about half the concn. of adrenal cholesterol found in those sacrificed at approx. the same time but in fair condition.