Lack of correlation between lysosomal enzyme activity and ascorbic acid content in brain of lead-treated animals

The administration of lead acetate increased acid phosphatase activities in the rat brain and four regions (cerebral cortex, diencephalon plus mesencephalon, pons plus medulla, and cerebellum) of the guinea pig brain, whereas ascorbic acid content in the brain of these animals remained unchanged following lead administration. Acid phosphatase activity also showed an increase in scorbutic guinea pig brain. Lipid peroxidation facilitated by ascorbic acid in the cerebral lysosome fraction of rat was not affected by lead. These results suggest that ascorbic acid is not directly concerned with the alteration in acid phosphatase activity induced by lead treatment.