EFFECT OF SEX VARIATION ON ASCORBIC ACID METABOLISM IN RATS

Male and Female albino rats (wistar strain) were pair fed with laboratory stock diet and their hepatic and urinary ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and diketogulonic acid were determined and total ascorbic acid was determined in blood. Activities of ascorbic acid degrading enzymes such as dehydroascorbatase and 2, 3-diketoaldonate decarboxylase were studied in liver and kidney of male and female rats. In male rats there was significantly higher ascorbic acid with no significant alterations in the dehydroascorbic acid and diketogulonic acid contents of liver when compared to those of female rats. The content of ascorbic acid in urine of male rats was more, but there was no significant changes in the dehydroascorbic acid and diketogulonic acid contents in males. Total blood ascorbic acid content of male rats was found to be significantly higher than that of female rats. The activities of dehydroascorbatase and 2, 3-diketoaldonate decarboxylase in liver of male rats was also found to be higher. The renal 2, 3-diketoaldonate decarboxylase activity was also found to be comparatively higher in males. However there was no sex difference in the activity of renal dehydroascorbatase. Probable reasons for sex variation in ascorbic acid metabolism have been discussed.