PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF ASCORBIC-ACID IN SHEEP

Four groups of sheep (5/group) were used in the experiment, Group 1 sh eep were given 1 g of ascorbic acid (AA) intravenously (IV), group 2 w ere given 3 g IV, group 3 were given 1 g intramuscularly (IM) and grou p 4 received 3 g IM, Blood was collected for 7 h after IV administrati on and for 48 ii following IM administration, Plasma was analyzed for AA using HPLC techniques, After PV administration the rate of eliminat ion was greater at the high dose than the low (0.8560 vs 0.5231 h(-1)) but the area under the curve (AUG) parameter was proportional to the dosage (127.9 vs 39.7 mcgh/mL). After IM administration AUC parameter s were higher than following the IV injections, When the times that AA levels were greater than or equal to 5 mcg/mL after IM injection were compared there was no significant difference between the 1 and 3 g do sages, Times that levels were greater than or equal to 10 mcg/mL were significantly longer far the 3 g dose, Using the AUC (area under the c urve) parameter as an index of drug exposure, supplementation of adult sheep with AA by the IM route should have a greater effect on the ani mal than IV administration.