[Effects of ascorbic acid deficiency on lactate dehydrogenase. Quantitative and isoenzymatic study]

Light, acute vitamin C deficiency or repletion had no uniform effect on lactiodeshydrogenase, each organ reaching specifically (skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, spleen, liver adrenals, testes). There was no correlation with the age of the animal except in the case of testicular lacticodeshydrogenase isoenzymes. Reduction of food intake caracteristic of the late state of scurvy had no effect on the distribution of isoenzymes which was also independent of quantitative variations of enzyme activity. Vitamin C repletion restored the normal distribution of isoenzymes in spleen and liver but not in skeletal muscle. In the last phase of acute vitamin C deficiency, lactiodeshydrogenase activity was generaly elevated (heart and skeletal muscle excepted). When ascorbic acid was given back lacticodeshydrogenase activity remained elevated in liver and spleen but was lowered in skeletal muscle.