Studies on the protective effects of L-ascorbic acid in chronic chlordane toxicity.

The influence of extraneous supplementation of L-ascorbic acid in chronic chlordane toxicity has been studied in rats. Oral administration of chlordane brings about a marked growth retardative effect, stimulates vitamin C synthesis in the system, elevates the vitamin C status of the liver and kidney tissues and also the urinary excretion. It inhibits the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases, SDH and Mg2+-ATPase of both hepatic and renal tissues. The activities of serum and mitochondrial GOT, serum alkaline phosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase of both hepatic and renal tissues are markedly stimulated. The normal histological patterns of both liver and kidney tissues are grossly altered under chlordane toxicity condition. There occurs marked increase in the hepatic lipid composition. Supplementation of L-ascorbic acid in high doses to the chlordane treated rats can effectively counteract some of these alterations in respect of enzyme activities, morphological characteristics and of hepatic lipid composition.