Protective effect of L-ascorbic acid in lindane intoxicated rats.

Administration of lindane at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight/day for 15 days to male rats brought about marked growth retardation. Succinic dehydrogenase, Mg2+-ATPase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities were inhibited in different fractions of liver tissues. Mg2+-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase and NADH-dehydrogenase activities were also inhibited in the liver plasma membranes of the lindane treated animals. Stimulation of 5'-nucleotidase activity in liver plasma membrane was observed under lindane intoxication. Supplementation of L-ascorbic acid by separate oral administration to the lindane intoxicated rats neutralized the growth retardation and maintained almost normal values of all the enzymes studied.