Fate of Ascorbic Acid in Early Radiation Damage.

1. There were no gross changes in concentration or total content of ascorbic acid within 72 hours after 600 r of X-ray in rat liver, brain, pancreas, testis, muscle, kidney, or brown adipose tissue. Thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen showed a drop in ascorbic acid concentration within four hours, and the content of ascorbic acid continued to drop throughout the period studied. Intestinal mucosa showed a sharp increase in ascorbic acid concentration during the first 4 hours followed by a gradual decline. 2. Stimulation of ascorbic acid synthesis by chloretone administration does not modify the effects of irradiation, nor does the hydration of these tissues change in a fashion which might account for the observed phenomena. 3. The observed changes in concentration could not be duplicated by the administration of aminopterin at a level of 10 mg/kg body weight.