Adenohypophyseal ascorbic acid: influences of oestradiol and methylene blue.

The ascorbic acid (AA) concentration in anterior pituitary and blood plasma was measured by the Roe-Kuether method in control rats and rats treated with oestradiol benzoate alone, methylene blue alone and with both oestradiol and methylene blue. We have found that methylene blue alone caused a significant drop in hypophyseal both AA and plasma AA concentrations. Methylene blue treatment prevented the increase in plasma AA concentration in oestradiol benzoate-treated rats.