Metabolic alterations in the squirrel monkey induced by DDT administration and ascorbic acid deficiency.

Metabolic Alterations in the Squirrel Monkey Induced by DDT Administration and Ascorbic Acid Deficiency, CHADWICK, R. W., CRANMER, M. F., and PEOPLES, A. J. (1971). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 20, 308-318. A daily po injection of 5 mg of 1 ,l,l-trichloro-2,2-bis(pchlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) given to squirrel monkeys for a 2-wk period produces significant increases in liver weight, microsomal protein, cytochrome P-450 and the in vitro activity of various drug metabolizing enzymes. DDT treatment also significantly alters elimination and storage of radioactivity from 14C-y-hexachlorocyclohexane but not from %l-DDT. However, the results indicate that ascorbic acid deficiency may significantly impair both the induction of O-demethylase and the stimulation of the glucuronic acid system by DDT. The p-glucuronic/p-glucaric acid excretion ratio is significantly depressed within 2 days in monkeys fed the ascrobic acid deficient diet. In addition to ascorbic acid deficiency an unknown nutritional factor from the administration of a second lot of the ascorbic acid deficient diet also appears to cause an inhibition of the p-glucuronic/ p-glucaric acid excretion ratio. This study provides evidence that interactions between nutritional status and toxic stress may significantly affect some routes of detoxification in the squirrel monkey.