Effect of ascorbic acid on antibody response of stressed and unstressed chickens.

Chickens were given feed containing a series of doses of ascorbic acid between 0 and 880 mg/kg starting 1 day before and continuing for 5 days after sheep erythrocytes were administered intravenously. Antibody titers were reduced when doses were greater than 220 mg/kg. Cold stress resulted in a reduction of titers, which was partly alleviated by doses between 220 and 440 mg/kg. Results were similar when 25 mg of corticosterone was added to the feed to simulate stress. Titers of treated stressed chickens were never greater than those of the untreated unstressed controls.