Circulating 17-Hydroxyeorticosteroids in Ascorbic Acid-Deficient Guinea Pigs.

Abstract

1. Quantitative determinations of plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in guinea pigs with severe ascorbic acid deficiency were made. 2. Plasma concentrations of these steroids were found to be approximately 10 times those found in normal guinea pigs despite the virtual absence of adrenal ascorbic acid. 3. Scorbutic animals treated with ascorbic acid for 5 days prior to sacrifice had circulating 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in amounts not significantly higher than those of control animals.