Effect of scurvy on cholesterol and ascorbic acid in guinea pig adrenals.

It has been shown earlier (1) that the metabolism of carbohydrate is disturbed in scorbutic guinea pigs as evidenced by diminished glucose tolerance, deposition of liver glycogen, and insulin content of the pancreas. Although the adrenalin content of the adrenals of scorbutic guinea pigs is increased, it has been shown by removing the adrenal medulla that adrenalin is not responsible for the lower glucose tolerance observed in scurvy (2). It has also been reported that the altered carbohydrate metabolism observed in scorbutic guinea pigs is not due to either hypoor hyperthyroidism (3). The adrenal cortex is intimately related to the carbohydrate metabolism. It was, therefore, of interest to find out whether the hormone of the adrenal cortex is affected in scorbutic guinea pigs. Because of the presence of a small quantity of the steroid hormone in the adrenal gland, it is difficult to estimate it. Cholesterol and ascorbic acid, however, appear to be related to the formation of the adrenal cortical hormone. Injection of the adrenocorticotropic hormone of the pituitary in rats and guinea pigs has been found to lower both the ascorbic acid and cholesterol content of the adrenal glands (4). In the present investigation total cholesterol and ascorbic acid concentrations of adrenal glands of scorbutic guinea pigs and paired, fed, normal guinea pigs have been estimated with the purpose of finding out the function of the adrenal cortex in scorbutic guinea pigs.