The Analysis of Vitamin C Concentration in Organs of Gulo-/- Mice Upon Vitamin C Withdrawal.
- Author:
Hyemin KIM
1
;
Seyeon BAE
;
Yeonsil YU
;
Yejin KIM
;
Hang Rae KIM
;
Young il HWANG
;
Jae Seung KANG
;
Wang Jae LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Vitamin C insufficiency; Gulo-/- mice; In vivo kinetics
- MeSH: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Brain; Drinking; Humans; Kinetics; Lung; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Plasma; Scurvy; Spleen; Vitamins; Weight Loss
- From:Immune Network 2012;12(1):18-26
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for maintaining human life. Vitamin C insufficiency in the plasma is closely related with the development of scurvy. However, in vivo kinetics of vitamin C regarding its storage and consumption is still largely unknown. METHODS: We used Gulo-/- mice, which cannot synthesize vitamin C like human. Vitamin C level in plasma and organs from Gulo-/- mice was examined, and it compared with the level of wild-type mice during 5 weeks. RESULTS: The significant weight loss of Gulo-/- mice was shown at 3 weeks after vitamin C withdrawal. However, there was no differences between wild-type and vitamin C-supplemented Gulo-/- mice (3.3 g/L in drinking water). The concentration of vitamin C in plasma and organs was significantly decreased at 1 week after vitamin C withdrawal. Vitamin C is preferentially deposited in adrenal gland, lymph node, lung, and brain. There were no significant changes in the numbers and CD4/CD8 ratio of splenocytes in Gulo-/- mice with vitamin C withdrawal for 4 weeks. And the architecture of spleen in Gulo-/- mice was disrupted at 5 weeks after vitamin C withdrawal. CONCLUSION: The vitamin C level of Gulo-/- mice was considerably decreased from 1 week after vitamin C withdrawal. Vitamin C is preferentially stored in some organs such as brain, adrenal gland and lung.
