THE CONCENTRATION OF ASCORBIC-ACID IN THE LIVER, IN THE CEREBRUM, IN THE KIDNEYS, IN THE ADRENALS AND THE M-LONGISSIMUS-DORSI OF DOG FETUSES AND DOGS AND CATS OF DIFFERENT AGES

In dogfetuses aged of 45 and 55 days as well as in dogs and cats of di fferent ages the body weight and the concentration of ascorbic acid in different tissues were analysed. In the liver, the highest concentrat ion was determined in the dogs aged 28 days (432 +/- 71 mug/g wet weig ht) and in the cats aged of 42 days (474 +/- 85 mug/g). In the cerebru m the highest concentration was found in dogfetuses aged 55 days (821 +/- 75 mug/g) and in cats aged 1 to 3 days (888 +/- 56 mug/g). In the kidneys and in the M. longissimus dorsi, the concentration was also in part age-dependent. The concentration in the adrenals of dogfetuses w as lower than that after birth: the highest concentration was analysed in dogs aged 28 days (1780 +/- 340 mug/g) and in cats aged 6 months ( 1497 +/- 203 mug/g). The significance of ascorbic acid for the develop ment of the tissues of carnivores is discussed and compared with the c oncentration in other species.