ASCORBIC ACID AND ACCLIMATIZATION TO COLD ENVIRONMENT

A large increase in the ascorbic acid content has been shown to occur in the tissues of the white rat (able to synthesize that vitamin) after prolonged exposure and adaptation to cold (+ 4° to − 4 °C.). The increase in ascorbic acid is much smaller if the rats exposed to low temperatures receive daily supplements of that vitamin. On the other hand, a decrease in ascorbic acid content of the tissues has been found in rats unable to adjust themselves to cold environment. From the above results obtained with the white rat, it seems that the acclimatization to low temperatures—and not only maintenance of life at the same temperatures—requires large quantities of ascorbic acid.That conclusion was confirmed by experiments with guinea-pigs (animals that do not synthesize ascorbic acid); the results obtained show that resistance and adaptation of the guinea-pig to cold environment depend on the amount of ascorbic acid received daily; besides, during the process of acclimatization to cold, more ascorbic acid is retained in the tissues of the guinea-pigs exposed to low temperatures than in the same tissues of control animals kept at room temperature; finally, a direct relation has been observed between adaptability to cold environment and the content of ascorbic acid in the adrenals.