The silver nitrate staining reaction for ascorbic acid in the adrenal, pituitary and ovary of various species of animals

Abstract

These organs from various animals, whether susceptible to scurvy or not, stain with AgNO3 in the dark. The adrenals from guinea-pigs on a scorbutic diet plus high doses of decitrated lemon juice did not so stain although the animals seemed to be fully protected from scurvy. The anterior lobe of the pituitary of the ox stained so markedly that it was tested for antiscorbutic potency. It was twice as potent as the adrenal cortex from the ox. In 42 human cases the majority of the adrenals did not stain with AgNO3 but the anterior lobe of the pituitary did in most cases.