DISTRIBUTION OF ASCORBIC ACID BETWEEN CELLS AND SERUM OF HUMAN BLOOD 1

Abstract

Ascorbic acid concs. were detd. in serum separated from defibrinated whole blood immediately and at certain intervals after the addition of ascorbic acid. The amts. of ascorbic acid transferred to and the concs. attained in the cells diminish with decreasing serum cones. Ratios, ascorbic acid of serum: ascorbic acid of cells, vary; they are greater than unity above serum concs. of approx. 35 mg. per liter, smaller than unity below this conc. The partition of ascorbic acid between the 2 phases of blood is not governed by simple diffusion. Ascorbic acid is not transferred from cells to serum when the former contain concs. considerably higher than the latter, either at 37[degree]C. or at 7[degree]C. Ascorbic acid is irreversibly combined with some intracellular substance. The magnitude of concs. of ascorbic acid in serum seems to affect the cellular functions involved in the mechanism of transfer of added ascorbic acid. Cells lost their ability to take up ascorbic acid after they were kept in serum with low concs. of ascorbic acid.