Abstract
We examined the influence of vitamin C administration on chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells of mice given total body X-ray irradiation. When vitamin C was administered orally or intraperitoneally to mice, the concentrations of vitamin C in plasma and bone marrow reached maximum at 2h after administration, regardless of the administration route. The concentration of vitamin C in plasma was markedly increased after administration, while that in the bone marrow increased only slightly even after a dose of 4g/kg body weight. Based on these findings, mice were subjected to X-ray irradiation (0.5, 1 or 1.5Gy) at 2h after administration of vitamin C (3 or 4g/kg body weight). Chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells was evaluated by the micronucleus assay using peripheral blood. Vitamin C treatment did not prevent X-ray-induced chromosomal damage. Also, no protective effect of vitamin C against X-ray-induced chromosomal damage was observed when vitamin C was administered with drinking water (20g/L) for 5 weeks. It was thought that vitamin C was not effectively accumulated in bone marrow even after excessive administration, and that this was the reason for the lack of any protective effect of vitamin C treatment against X-ray induced chromosomal damage in the bone marrow.
