[Dependence of vitamin C content in animal tissues on the dose of UV radiation]

The content of vitamin C in tissues was determined for animals synthetizing (rabbits) and nonsynthetizing (guinea pigs) it with UV radiation. Significant doses of radiation cause a considerable decrease in the content of vitamin C in blood of both animal species. In the adrenal, liver, spleen, lung, small intestine, kidney, brain tissues and vitamin C content decreases in animals nonsynthetizing the vitamin and, vice versa, it rises in the vitamin-synthetizing animals. After irradiation with small doses the vitamin C content in blood and tissues of animals nonsynthetizing it lowers but not below the normal level. Additional administration of 100 mg of ascorbic acid (under conditions of sufficient supply of vitamin C with food) does not prevent a decrease in the content of vitamin C in blood of the animals irradiated with significant UV doses. An opinion is advanced as to necessity of vitamin C rationing taking into account "the UV climate" of the area and dose of radiation from the artifical sources.