Ascorbic acid activity in adrenal glands of rats with hypervitaminosis A.

Toxic effects of administering large doses of vitamin A have been known for a long time to occur in human beings as well as in laboratory animals (Josephs, 1944; Knudson & Rothman, 1953). Polar bear liver is an unusually potent source of vitamin A and is toxic as a food even for Eskimo's dogs (Rodahl & Moore, 1943). I n hypervitaminosis A basal metabolism is lowered (Sadhu & Brody, 1947) and liver metabolic activity is depressed (Ray & Sadhu, 1959a, 6 ) . Excess intake of vitamin A causes an increased urinary excretion of ascorbic acid, so that the vitamin C reserve of the body can become exhausted and vitamin C deficiency can occur (And&& Gauzin, 1954). The investigation described here was planned as a study of the general activities of the body in hypervitaminosis A in relation to body-weight and the weights of different tissues and also to the oxidation of ascorbic acid in the adrenal gland.