Ascorbic Acid Content of Tissues Following Ether Anesthesia

It was recently reported by us 1 that following ether anesthesia in dogs, rats and guinea pigs the urinary excretion of ascorbic acid is increased. This excess excretion, which amounts to a 10 to 15 fold increase in the case of the dog but which is somewhat less in the case of rats and guinea pigs, is only of short duration. That is, the excretion falls to the normal level or slightly below in the second 24-hour urine collection following the anesthesia.

It was naturally of interest to determine whether similar periods of ether anesthesia as employed in the above studies are followed by changes of the ascorbic acid content of the tissues. Therefore, rats and guinea pigs, after being maintained on a constant diet for some time, were subjected to 2-hour periods of ether anesthesia.

The animals were killed by a blow on the head either immediately after the anesthesia or 2 to 4 hours later. The ascorbic acid content of the various tissues was determined by titration with 2,6 dichlorophenol indophenol according to the procedure outlined by Birch, Harris and Ray. 2

Table I presents the results obtained. In the case of rats which were killed immediately following the anesthesia, the average ascorbic acid content of kidney and liver is definitely higher than that found in the controls. On the other hand, the average ascorbic acid content of the adrenals is reduced. When the rats were killed 4 hours following the anesthesia, the ascorbic acid content of kidneys and liver, though less than that observed in the animals killed immediately following the anesthesia, is still definitely above the control level. At the same time the ascorbic acid content of the adrenals shows a continued decrease.