The Analysis of Vitamin C Concentration in Organs of Gulo−/− Mice Upon Vitamin C Withdrawal

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 1week 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.