EFFECTS OF STILBESTROL ON WEIGHT AND ASCORBIC ACID LEVEL OF GUINEA PIG ADRENALS

During the course of a study of the histogenesis of the estrogeninduced tumors of guinea pigs (Nadel, 1949), the influence of ascorbic acid upon the development of this type of tumor was investigated. An unexpected finding, compatible with acute scurvy (Meyer and McCormick, 1928), developed when stilbestrol pellets were implanted into guinea pigs kept on a diet partially deficient in ascorbic acid. A study of the possible interrelationship between ascorbic acid and stilbestrol metabolism was undertaken. This paper deals with effects of stilbestrol implants on adrenal ascorbic acid concentration and adrenal weights of female guinea pigs maintained at different levels of ascorbic acid deficiency. Stock virgin female guinea pigs raised at the National Institutes of Health Breeding Farm were used in all the experiments. A stock diet of commercial Purina rabbit chow and fresh cabbage was supplemented with carrots once a week. Animals were transferred from this stock diet to the scorbutogenic diet described below.