VIII. EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY IN ANIMALS 291 



of rod rolls docroasod, thoir fall was greator than that of homoglobin and 

 the color index approached that of normal values. May et al?^- produced 

 megaloblastic anemia in monkeys on a diet deficient in ascorbic acid. 



(3) Leucocytes. Variable results have been reported by different investi- 

 gators as to the effect of ascorbic acid on leucocyte counts. Harman and 

 Kordisch'-^ reported a tendency for a decreased leucocyte count in ascorbic 

 acid-deficient animals. However, the difference as compared to normal ani- 

 mals was both small and inconstant. McCormick^^ obtained increases in 

 leucocytes in 92 % of his animals with an average increase equal to 80 % ; 

 the polymorphonuclear cells were increased in 98% of the cases with an 

 average increase in number equal to 233 % ; the lymphocytes decreased in 

 98 % of the cases with an average decrease equal to 64 %. The results sug- 

 gested very distinct changes in the blood picture except with respect to 

 monocytes, basophiles, eosinophiles, and transitionals. Since the leuco- 

 cytosis ended quickly upon the resumption of antiscorbutics, he thought 

 it unlikely that it was due to infection. In fact, gross signs of infection were 

 not found in any of his experimental animals. However, increased leuco- 

 cy tosis during infection may cause an increased utilization of the vitamin ;^^^ 

 increased metabolism may possibly also cause an increased usage. ^* Azodi^*^ 

 found that an increase in leucocytes occurred at the time the red cells began 

 to decrease. The white cells increased 89% whereas the red cell decrease 

 was 34%. In the qualitative white cell picture there was an increase in 

 segmented cells and a decrease in lymphocytes. Lymphocytosis was changed 

 to neutrophilia during the very early phases of the deficiency, but in the 

 third week this relation was reversed. The number of lymphocytes began 

 to increase and liecame even greater than the normal. In young animals 

 the increase in lymphocytes was concomitant with the onset of anemia. The 

 influence of ascorbic acid was to further increase the red cells and decrease 

 the white. Other investigators^^^"^^® have also shown a leucopenic effect of 

 ascorbic acid. 



The increase in number of leucocytes frequently found in scurvy may be 

 either a consequence of increased cell production or more probably of de- 

 creased phagocytic activity-' and lessened migration from the blood stream 

 to the tissues. A decrease in adrenal cortical hormones would presumably 

 produce the latter effect. The concentration of the vitamin in the blood 

 falls continuously during the course of the deficiency until, if the animal 

 continues to live, the zero point is reached. The plasma and red cells are 



"2 C. D. May, II. D. Sundberg, and F. Schaar, J. Lab. Clin. Med. 36, 963 (1950). 



1" T. D. Cuttle, Quart. J. Med. 7, 575 (1938). 



1" A. Boger and W. Martin, Miinch. med. Wochnschr. 82, 899 (1935). 



1" H. J. Sporl and R. Pongratz, Klin. Wochnschr. 15, 1639 (1936). 



"6 I. S. Wright and A. Lilienfeld, Arch. Internal Med. 57, 2-11 (1936). 



