Abstract
The effects of oral administration of L-ascorbic acid (AsA) and dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (DAsA) on ODS rat development were examined. AsA or DAsA was administered orally at 2mg/0.5mL ion-exchanged water/day. No difference was observed in body weight changes during the observation period between the AsA and DAsA groups. The animals were anatomized on Day 21, and various component analyses were performed. The total vitamin C levels in the brain and liver and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly lower in the DAsA group than in the AsA group (p<0.01). The malondialdehyde concentration, which is an index of serum lipid peroxide level, was significantly higher in the DAsA group than in the AsA group (p<0.05). The hydroxyproline level, which is an index of the collagen content, was measured in the sternum (xiphoid process) and auricle, but no difference was noted between the two groups. No difference was noted in the systolic blood pressure or heart rate on the day before autopsy between the two groups.
