Effect of ascorbate on lysosomal enzyme activities in guinea pig cartilage and adrenals.

The effect of ascorbic acid on adrenal and cartilage lysosomal enzyme activity was evaluated in guinea pigs maintained on either 2.4 mg, or 150 mg of ascorbate per day. When compared to adrenal enzyme activities in animals on high dietary levels of ascorbate, the adrenals of animals on 2.4 mg of ascorbate per day expressed 50% increase in the activities of acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase A, and arylsulfatase B (p less than 0.02). In cartilage, the activity of acid phosphatase was significantly elevated in animals on low dietary levels of ascorbate (p less than 0.01), but arylsulfatase A and arylsulfatase B activities were not affected by varying the dietary intake of ascorbate. These data indicate an inverse relationship between tissue vitamin C concentrations and lysosomal enzyme activities.