Influence of lead administration on L-ascorbic acid metabolism in rats: effect of L-ascorbic acid supplementation.

1. Lead toxicated rats became severely anaemic which could be recovered to a considerable extent by simultaneous supplementation of L-ascorbic acid to these rats. 2. The concentrations of L-ascorbic acid in the liver tissues and in the urine of the toxicated rats were increased significantly while that in the kidney tissues was markedly reduced and supplementation of L-ascorbic acid to the toxicated rats could not raise appreciably this reduced L-ascorbic acid level in the kidney tissues. 3. The kidney of rats maintained on lead supplemented basal diet were enlarged significantly; the normal histological pattern of the kidney tissues was severely disturbed under the experimental condition exhibited by cellular necrosis and membrane rupture. 4. In the liver tissues of lead toxicated rats, the rate of L-ascorbic acid synthesis was enhanced and this was brought to the basal level by supplementation of L-ascorbic acid. Synthesis of L-xylulose in the kidney tissues of rats was drastically reduced under lead toxicosis and administration of L-ascorbic acid to the toxicated animals could not protect this effect.