INCREASED LEVEL OF L-ASCORBIC-ACID IN THE PLASMA OF POLYCHLOROBIPHENYLS-TREATED RATS AND ITS INHIBITION BY DIETARY VITAMIN-E

Abstract

Male rats 1 mo. old were fed a basal vitamin E deficient diet with or without 100 ppm vitamin E supplementation for 11 wk and were injected i.p. with 500 mg/kg body wt of polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) in sesame oil or an equivalent amount of sesame oil. Five days after PCB treatment the level of total L-ascorbic acid in the plasma of vitamin E deficient rats increased 69% (P < 0.001) compared to 26% (P < 0.01) of the supplemented group. The dehydro form of ascorbic acid increased 111% (P < 0.001) and 33% (P < 0.01), respectively, in the plasma of PCB treated rats maintained on the vitamin E deficient and supplemented diets. The levels of reduced ascorbic acid and of vitamin E in plasma were not significantly altered by PCB in both groups of animals. Dietary vitamin E may modify cellular susceptibility to PCB toxicity. [The nutritional status of vitamin E has been related to the cellular sensitivity of a variety of environmental agents].