Effect of cold and heat stress on rat adrenal, serum and liver ascorbic acid concentration

Abstract

Changes in ascorbic acid (AA) concentration were examined in the adrenals, serum and liver of Wistar rats exposed to cold (6 ºC) and heat stress (38 ºC) for 60 min. The exposure of animals to cold stress for 60 min did not change concentration of AA in the serum, adrenals and liver as compared to controls maintained at room temperature. After a 60 min heat exposure the concentration of AA in the adrenals decreased (***p<0.001), in the liver remained unchanged whereas it significantly increased in the serum (***p<0.001) in respect to control values. .

Keywords

• adrenals
• ascorbic acid
• cold stress
• heat stress
• liver
• serum